THE FOREST. FATHER, thy hand Hath reared these venerable columns, thou Didst weave this verdant roof. Thou didst look down All these fair ranks of trees. They, in thy sun The boast of our vain race to change the form That run along the summit of these trees In music; thou art in the cooler breath That from the inmost darkness of the place Comes, scarcely felt-the barky trunks, the ground, In the tranquillity that thou dost love, Enjoys thy presence. Noiselessly, around, From perch to perch, the solitary bird Passes; and yon clear spring, that, 'midst its herbs, Of half the mighty forest, tells no tale Of all the good it does. Thou hast not left Of thy perfections. Grandeur, strength, and grace By whose immovable stem I stand, and seem In all that proud old world beyond the deep, BRYANT. 229 CONNEXIONAL DEPARTMENT. EDITORIAL REMARKS. It will delight our friends through the Connexion to read the spirited and successful efforts of our friends in Lees. They have done themselves and the Connexion honour; and we earnestly and confidently hope their zeal, liberality, public spirit, and Connexional enterprise, will be abundantly rewarded by their seeing the new chapel crowded with hearers, and many precious souls brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. We have our eye upon some other places, especially upon an important town in Yorkshire, where we hope an effort similar in spirit, but on a much larger scale, will soon be made. Let us hope that what has been long delayed will be found at last a transcendent result. We leave our excellent friends at Leeds both to make the application and the response. Our friends at Tunstall have done nobly. It rejoices our heart to perceive a cause which, for many years, has been one of the weakest parts of the Connexion to have become already prosperous, and likely soon to become a very efficient Church. Our friends, in times past, have passed through much discouragement and tribulation; but the day of rejoicing has come, and the time of greatly augmented usefulness is at hand. Our friends ask for encouragement, and they deserve it. We hope it will not be withheld. May they both receive all needful help from their brethren, and be abundantly favoured with the blessing of Almighty God! MOSSLEY CIRCUIT. OPENING OF ZION NEW MR. EDITOR.-DEAR SIR,-It was my pleasing duty, as secretary to the Building Committee, to send you a short account of the laying of the foundationstone of our new chapel in June, 1852. I then promised to give more particulars when the building was completed; but on receiving the Magazine for August, and perusing Mr. Shuttleworth's address, I found he had been furnished with correct information as to the rise and progress of the Connexion in Lees, to which I beg to refer the readers of our Large Magazine. (See the number for August, 1852, pages 381, &c.) It is, therefore, now only necessary to state particulars respecting the origin, progress, and completion of the new chapel. Early in September, 1851, a joint meeting of trustees and leaders was called, to take into consideration the means to be adopted to clear the entire premises of debt. The subject was brought fully before the meeting, and the following resolution was passed: "That as the debt on the chapel and schools is only £400, and the premises being too small for the proper accommodation of congregation and scholars, that no effort be made to reduce the debt, but at once set CHAPEL AND ORGAN, LEES. to work and do our utmost to raise a new chapel." On the 29th of the same month, another meeting was held; and the probability of raising funds sufficient was the chief topic of conversation. A Building Committee was formed; Mr. Atherton being appointed treasurer, and Mr. G. Atkins the secretary. The work, however, did not begin in good earnest until November 13, when a few of us, with the preachers of the Circuit, met at the house of our highly-esteemed and very liberal friend Mr. Atherton. We took tea together, the chief subject of conversation being the new chapel. After tea, several animating addresses were delivered, and a subscription entered into, amounting to £446 5s. This, Mr. Editor, was doing business in the right direction! Encouraged with what was done, we waited upon other members who were not at the meeting, were kindly received and liberally treated. At the next meeting, Mr. S. L. Halliwell, with Treasurer and Secretary, were appointed to see the principal friends in the neighbourhood favourable to education and religion, and solicit subscriptions. The ladies also entered heartily Mr. John Proctor Messrs. Shaw and Andrew Trustees of Old Chapel Collection at the Opening of Schools Rev. T. W. Ridley Mr. Wm. Fielding Mr. F. Beets Mr. Edward Lawton Mr. Saml. Winterbottom Mr. Joseph Wrigley 10 0 0 5 0 5 Mr. Geo. Yates Mr. C. Pendleton Mr. Saml. Lees Mr. S. Draunsfield Mr. F. Little Mr. G. W. Beaumont 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 CO TO CO TO CO COLO O O O O NA** 5 0 0 5 0 3 0 3 3 0 330 3 3 0 3 3 3 2 2 2 5 0 20 2 0 200 0 20 20 * The sums were promised in guineas. £925 5 0 At a subsequent meeting it was resolved to pull down the whole of the old premises and erect two large schoolrooms. In a few days the old buildings were demolished, and the masons were busily engaged in the new undertaking. The schools are fourteen yards by twelve yards, and twelve and a half feet high; affording accommodation for 500 Sabbath-scholars, and 400 day scholars. The schools were opened last June, and are well attended. The chapel is built on an elevated and open plot of ground, about twenty-four yards from the foot-path at the eastern end of the town, and on the north side of the Lees and Saddleworth road. The style is the same as Hunslet Chapel, and was designed by the celebrated chapel architect, Mr. James Simpson, of Leeds. It is fifty-two feet long by fortytwo feet broad; with an orchestra and vestry at the north end, behind which stand the schools, forming altogether an excellent pile of buildings. The exte rior of the chapel is neat, and well finished. The interior is elegant, and is much admired by all who see it. The windows are fitted up with green durant blinds, which have a pretty effect. The front of the gallery is painted white, with gilded mouldings. It is well lighted (having windows to the south, east, and west), admirably heated by an improved warm-water apparatus, and properly ventilated. The gallery is circular, and the pews in it are so well arranged that the whole of the audience have a good view of the preacher. The building affords good accommodation for 600 persons. The organ has been constructed by Mr. Greenwood, of Leeds. The style of front corresponds with the chapel, is painted white, and the mouldings gilded. It is a G G organ, with C C C pedals; it contains twenty-two stops, including the swell, two octaves of pedals, and three composition pedals. The tone is full and very sweet. The instrument reflects great credit on the builder, who is a member of our Society. A.M. The opening services commenced with a good prayer-meeting in the vestry, on the 20th of February, at seven o'clock We felt the Divine Presence was with us, and left the meeting saying, "It has been good to wait upon the Lord." On the same day, the Rev. S. Hulme preached two eloquent and very im pressive sermons, which will long be remembered by those who heard him. Our highly-esteemed Superintendent preached in the afternoon in his usual lively style. A collection was made after each sermon, and the proceeds of the day amounted to £152. On Saturday, the 26th, a tea-meeting took place in the upper school-room, when about 300 persons sat down to tea. Had the day been fine, a much larger number would have been present. After the tables were cleared, John Buckley, Esq., of Carr Hill, was called to the chair, and with a very appropriate speech opened the meeting. Addresses were also delivered by the Rev. J. Nicholas of Dewsbury, the Revs. J. Henshaw and H. Piggin of Ashton, Rev. H. O. Crofts, D.D., of Birmingham, Mr. Noton of Oldham, and Messrs. T. Hannam, H. Atherton and G. Atkins of Lees. A vote of thanks was proposed by the Rev. T. W. Ridley, seconded by the Rev. J. Orme, to the Building Committee, for their very energetic and successful labours; also by Mr. Atherton, and seconded by Mr. James Fielding, to the chairman for his kind and very efficient services. On Sabbath, 27th, the services were resumed. The Rev. Dr. Crofts officiated morning and afternoon; his discourses were excellent, and calculated to do good. In the evening the pulpit was occupied by our venerable and talented minister, the Rev. T. Allin, who gave us an elaborate and eloquent sermon. A collection was made after each sermon, and the preacher had the honour to announce that the total proceeds of the two Sabbaths amounted to the handsome sum of £350 1s. 2d.; the collections of the second day being greater than the first. Our friends from Mossley and Oldham came on each day, and, to their honour be it said, gave liberally. D. H. Buckley, Esq., of Mossley, presided at the organ on the 20th; and Mr. John Cowper, of Lees, on the 27th. An efficient choir of singing were in attendance on each occasion. The playing and singing were excellent, and gave very great satisfaction. Our sanctuary is now finished: it has been erected for the worship of God; may his blessing rest upon our labours! may the house we have dedicated to him become the spiritual birth-place of many precious souls! And to God be all the glory. (Signed) GEO. ATKINS, Hon. Secretary. Lees, March 10, 1853. our PROJECTED NEW CHAPEL AT TUNSTALL, BURSLEM CIRCUIT.-From a previous communication published in the Magazine in relation to Tunstall, the friends of the Connexion will be expecting to hear something more in reference to the state and prospects of our cause in that rapidly-increasing and populous town. The spacious schools the friends erected last summer, capable of accommodating nearly one thousand children, are likely to realize the most sanguine expectations of friends. There are nearly six hundred children already attending the school. In consequence of the friends having disposed of the chapel in which they had worshipped for many years, and which was inconveniently situated, they have been conducting public worship in the upper school-room. The congregation, however, of the great number of children and adults usually attending the service is so large, that they find it to be absolutely necessary to provide further accommodation, The wants of the public, the interests of the Connexion, and generous tide of favourable feeling which has set in in relation to the Methodist New Connexion throughout the neighbourhood, indicate most unmistakeably that the time has come for the erection of a commodious chapel. To promote this very important object, a public tea-meeting was held on Monday, February 28th. On that occasion upwards of six hundred friends attended. We have scarcely ever witnessed so much anxiety on the part of the public to attend a meeting of this kind. Long before the hour fixed for taking the refreshing beverage, the people began to assemble. The throng became greater as the time approached, and we had the satisfaction of seeing the whole of the room available filled up. After tea, the meeting for speaking commenced. E. Wedgwood, Esq. (Wesleyan), was called upon to preside. The esteemed chairman congratulated the friends of the Methodist New Connexion on the cheering prospect they had of forming an interest in Tunstall that would be in perfect keeping with the interests they had in other parts of the Potteries. He showed very convincingly that in the loeality fixed upon for the new chapel there was a new population for which no provision of the kind had been made, and to promote the spiritual interests of which all Christians were equally bound. The chairman conducted the business of the evening with considerable ability, and left the friends, a very substantial proof of his regard for the cause. The writer then addressed the meeting, giving an interesting statement relative to the cause at Tunstall, and materially strengthened the conviction already produced, that a new chapel was absolutely necessary. Mr. Arnold (Wesleyan) spoke with considerable effect, urging the friends to vigorous and united effort. Messrs. Pinder and Fidduck, of Burslem, addressed the meeting, following the example of the chairman and Mr. A. by giving a liberal donation. The chairman then called upon the Rev. G. Hallatt, who spoke at considerable length and with his accustomed ability, throwing out gems of brilliancy and producing great delight and good humour. He was succeeded by the Rev. A. Lynn, who gave a very characteristic address on the importance of effort, prayer, and sacrifice, in reference to the cause of God. Time would not permit of the Rev. G. Wood and others to address the meeting. At the close of Mr. Lynn's address, the friends, encouraged by the example of the persons above named, began to procure contributions towards the new chapel. A considerable time was taken up with this practical part of the business of the evening; and you will be happy to hear that upwards of £100, including proceeds of tea, was promised. A more delightfully exciting meeting we have seldom attended. The large room was densely crowded during the whole evening. The pleasure of the evening was considerably enhanced by the great ability with which Mr. Steel presided at the harmonium, and by the singers connected with the place performing several appropriate anthems. A number of young children, the family of one of our friends from Bucknal, sang several pieces, and gave great satisfaction. There is every reason to hope that during the summer a beautiful and spacious chapel will be built every way creditable to the friends and the Connexion. A fund has already been realized amounting to upwards of £556. Many friends have yet to be waited upon for subscriptions. The friends are full of energy and zeal, and are determined that nothing shall be wanting on their part in carrying out this noble object. Looking at the circumstances of the friends connected with the cause here, it is astonishing that they have accomplished what they have. To crown past efforts with the erection of a chapel will demonstrate the existence of a spirit of enterprise that has scarcely been equalled, and, perhaps, never surpassed, in any part of the Connexion. If there are any generous friends who feel disposed to assist the cause, they never had a case more needy, nor one that had stronger claims on practical sympathy. W. PACEY. MISSION ANNIVERSARIES. HALIFAX CIRCUIT.-DEAR SIR,-By this post I forward to you the Halifax Courier, containing a report of several of our missionary meetings. In addition to which, we had previously held our missionary services at Elland, Mr. John Farrer in the chair; Mount Zion, Mr. William Crampton, from Hunslet, in the chair; and at Boulderclough, when Mr. Crampton again presided, and assisted us by his liberal contributions. The meetings were addressed by the Rev. C. Atkinson and the ministers of the Circuit; and the collections were all considerably in advance of last year.Yours affectionately, JOHN POXON. 15, Gerrard-street, Halifax. "On Sunday the 6th, eloquent and instructive sermons were preached in Salem and Hanover-street Chapels, in |