of reckoning will come, and oh, if we should hear Christ say, at the last, Well done! all heaven will rise to give us the welcome to everlasting habitations. When in heaven we mingle with those saved through our ministry, shall we not rejoice that ours was an effective ministry?

We come to a close: 1. You see your calling, brethren. Ours is a solemn work;

we have to do with an earnest God, an earnest Saviour, an earnest Spirit, an earnest salvation, an earnest eternity. and earnest souls. 2. You see your strength-Christ with you, in you, for you. 3. You see your glory to win souls. 4. You see your end to save both yourselves and those who hear you. H. WATTS. Staleybridge, Dec. 9, 1852.

Ir will be pleasing to the friends of the Connexion to know that we have at last completed and opened our Bolton chapel. The corner-stone was laid in January, 1852, and an interesting account of the ceremony appeared in the February Magazine. We have met with many vexatious delays in finishing the chapel. We had intended to open in the month of September; but failing in this, we turned our attention most anxiously to October, knowing that if delayed to the dreary month of November we should be deprived of the fine weather, and, consequently, of the presence of many friends who were anxious to be present, to join their praises and thanksgivings with ours on this delightful occasion; but we soon found that it was impossible to be ready in October, and we were therefore driven to the necessity of opening in November.

Thursday morning, November 11th, was the day fixed for opening. Our hearts beat with high expectation and pleasure. Since 1841, we have had no chapel in this town. The few friends who have remained with us felt emotions it is impossible to describe in the prospect of again worshipping in a chapel which they could call their own. Thursday morning came, to us a memorable day! The wind blew, the rain and snow came heavily down, it was a real drenching morning. We were ready to say—yes, and did say, This makes against us; but in the aspirations and prayers of our hearts we wished and prayed that these things might be tokens of showers of blessings coming down upon us. Our venerable and esteemed minister, the Rev. T. Allin, preached the opening sermon. His text was 2 Timothy iii. 16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." He took occasion to combat the prevailing errors of the day in reference to divine inspiration. He did this in a masterly manner. Few men are so fully competent to grapple with this important subject as the author of the "Folly of Modern Atheism."

In the evening, the Rev. S. Hulme, of Manchester, preached a most eloquent sermon from Psalm lxxxvii. 3. The future brightening scenes of the Church were depicted with great power, and sincerely did we pray that the "glorious things" spoken of the Church might be realized in that place. On Sunday, November 14th, the Rev. J. Stacey, of Huddersfield, preached in the morning, at half-past ten, from Acts iv. 12. In a style of chaste and beautiful simplicity the preacher showed the utter impossibility of salvation in any other name but Christ, and that the attempts which are now being made to draw men away from this great doctrine are dangerous, nay ruinous. In the afternoon, the Rev. B. Turnoek, of Bolton, preached from I Cor. i. 23-24, showing that the great theme of the Christian ministry is "Christ crucified," and pointed out a few reasons why Jews and Greeks rejected Christ, and then dwelt upon the moral influence of the gospel as being adapted to the state of man, and especially of its being the power of God and the wisdom of God. In the evening, the Rev. P. J. Wright, of Leeds, President of the Conference, gave a splendid discourse from Psalm cxxvi. 1, 2, 3. It was peculiarly adapted to the state of the Church and congregation, was delivered with great earnestness, and produced a most thrilling effect. This evening the chapel was filled, nay more, was crowded.

On Sunday the 21st we resumed the services. The Rev. W. Mills, of Newcastle, Staffordshire, preached in the morning, from Rev. vii. 9, 10, 11. The sermon was full of stirring thought and beautiful description. There was a holy earnestness and deep feeling manifested by the preacher, producing a solemn holy awe among the people. God was felt to be there. In the evening, the Rev. John Hudston, of Nottingham, addressed the congregation from 2 Cor. vii. 10. The preacher examined the doctrine of repentance at great length,

clearly defining the sound evangelical view of the subject. It was a masterly exposition of the subject.

On Monday the 22nd a public teameeting was held in the Temperance Hall, B. Fowler, Esq., of Liverpool, Treasurer of the Mission Fund, in the chair. The meeting was addressed by the Revs. J. Hudston, W. Mills, J. Graham, B. Turnock, T. Clifton, with Messrs. J. Cunliffe and A. Pilling. There were nearly three hundred present. The collections amounted to the handsome sum of £145. This is very cheering, especially considering the very unfavourable state of the weather. It is very remarkable, it rained at the time of every one of the opening services.

This beautiful elegant chapel has been built in the Grecian style of architecture, and both the exterior and interior appearance is beautiful, and may safely be adopted as a model, not only by our own community but by any other denomination. The commendations bestowed upon it have been of the most flattering kind. Instead of the ordinary pulpit we have a beautiful platform, about nine feet by four, ascended by two flights of ornamental cast-iron steps. The height of platform above the communion floor is five feet, supported by four pilasters with moulded capitals, architrave, freize, and cornice, the mouldings of which are beautifully gilded. The ornamental bronzed railing, which gives a finish to the steps, is continued round the platform, the whole being surmounted with a mahogany hand-rail, French polished. The inside of the rails of the platform we have covered with crimson velvet, which gives a chaste and beautiful appearance to the whole. adoption of this principle in our places of worship is a great improvement upon the old-fashioned tub form of pulpit. It is a step in the right direction, and is worthy of the attention of all parties who are intending to build. The expense is not greater than for an ordinary pulpit. The cost of the building will be about £1,850. Towards this we have raised about £1,400. We have taken up a mortgage of £450, which is the amount of debt remaining upon the premises; but let it be understood that in reality there is not quite this amount of debt. About three years ago, our friends took up shares in a building society for the sum of £480; they have therefore paid in that society for about three years, and in six or seven years will draw £480 to pay off the mortgage of £450. I wish every chapel in the Connexion was in as good

The

a state. Thank God, we are removing chapel debts. I am happy to say that we have a few noble-hearted ladies in connexion with our cause here who are worthy of a better place in our historical recollections than this brief article will give them. The ladies of our sewing meeting have resolved to pay the interest of the mortgage, and furthermore, to pay from their meeting the calls of the building society. To enable them to do so, a few of the gentlemen have engaged to pay to their meetings 2s. 6d. per month, so that the entire proceeds of the chapel will go to meet ordinary expenses and the Home Mission Fund. Thus it is seen, that whilst the Connexion has been helping us here, we have been, and are now, helping ourselves. In a little while, I hope Bolton will be self-supporting. We must go to other large towns and cities of Great Britain, unfurling the banner of the cross, and bringing the poor outcasts of society to the beloved embrace of a Saviour; and whilst we are doing this our community will be more fully known and admired. The extension of the Methodist New Connexion in this country, in places where we have no interest, must be by the instrumentality

of the Home Mission.

We have commenced a Sunday-school in the vestry of our new chapel, which promises to do well. Our next effort must be to erect a Sunday-school. Our places of worship are not complete without a Sabbath-school. Oh that the great Head of the Church may smile upon us, and God grant that this chapel which we have reared for the honour of his name may be the birth-place of precious souls. Here may we see weeping penitents, and hear the exultant shouts of new-born souls. From this place may angels fly back to heaven with the joyful intelligence of souls returning to God. Thus our largest wishes will be realized, and our warmest prayers answered.

B. TURNOCK.

JUBILEE OF BETHESDA SUNDAYSCHOOL-HANLEY CIRCUIT.-If there is any one thing more remarkable than another in which the fathers of the New Connexion were distinguished, it is the combination of sagacity and resolution which enabled them to lay hold of, and carry out, principles of action and plans of usefulness, which, however consonant to the experienced practical sense of the present generation, were far from being popular in their day.

The establishment of Sunday-schools,

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by a community so young, before the Christian Church at large had adopted them, and while it had but little experience of their results, is an instance of this, and the expectations then formed of this institution have been fully justified by its history and present condition.

An institution that has existed for half a century, and at the end of this long period can hold up its head and look the world in the face, must have something good in it; at all events, it must have some of the elements of stability and have led to some practically useful results. The friends of this school, therefore, on the occurrence of so rare an epoch as the jubilee of its establishment, felt that they had a right to rejoice together and ask their friends and neighbours to participate in their joy. But as they did not wish this festal occasion, any more than their ordinary labours, to be destitute of practical value, they determined to make it an opportunity of accomplishing a work which had long been needed, the renovation and beautifying of the spacious and commodious premises in which the business of the school is conducted. This work has been done in a very com.. plete and satisfactory manner, and the cost, amounting to upwards of a hundred pounds, has been chiefly defrayed by the contributions of friends, two collections on the Sabbath-day, and the profits of the jubilee tea-party. Sunday morning, October 24th, each scholar appeared with a beautiful commemorative medal suspended on his or her neck by a ribbon. This medal, manufactured by Messrs. Allen and Moore, of Birmingham, exhibits on one side the heads of Wesley, the father of the great Methodist family, and Kilham, one of the intrepid and self-denying founders of it, both carefully engraved after the best likenesses that could be procured, surrounded by the words "Methodist New Connexion, established 1797;" and on the other, the following inscription: "Bethesda Sunday-schools, established 1802-building erected 1819-enlarged 1836. Jubilee, 1852." But as you, Mr. Editor, from your former connexion with us, may feel special interest in the matter, the writer will inclose you a medal along with this paper that you may judge of its appropriateness and beauty by personal inspection.

On

On the same day jubilee sermons, both very excellent and heart-searching, were preached in Bethesda Chapel by the

Rev. J. A. Baynes of Nottingham, who is known to many of our friends as an able minister of Christ, a man of a catholic spirit, and a warm friend of religious education.

On the following evening, the jubilee tea party was held in the schoolroom, when about 500 Sunday-school teachers and friends of the school assembled to congratulate each other, to thank God for his goodness, and to draw from the memories of the past fresh motives for continued exertions.

The chair was taken by John Ridgway, Esq., one of the very few friends who were connected with the school at its commencement, and perhaps the only one who has maintained a close connexion with it from that time to the present. Warm-hearted and appropriate addresses were delivered by the chairman and by our respected ministers, and an impression was made upon the assembly which, it is to be hoped, will not be speedily effaced.

We have much to be thankful for, in the accession of a large number of members to the Church, and of many able and devoted labourers in the vineyard of the Lord, who were once scholars in our school. Some of these are the most consistent members and the most useful ministers in our community; and many more have passed from the labour and conflicts of the Church on earth to the triumphs and glories of the Church in heaven. Still we have cause to be humbled, and to rejoice with trembling. What I say to the supporters and teachers of this school I say to all who in every part of our beloved community are engaged in this good work. We are scarcely sufficiently alive to the importance of the object, or to the capabilities of the machinery at our disposal. Self-denying and praiseworthy as are the efforts of many enlightened Sunday-school teachers, and gratifying as are the results of their disinterested labours, I am persuaded that if teachers generally would awaken to a sense of their responsibilities, and, by a diligent study of God's Word, and earnest prayer for the guidance of. his Spirit, prepare their hearts and minds for the work, both school and Church would assume an aspect of moral beauty and spiritual vigour which few of us at present are prepared to expect.

I will not encroach upon your space by enlarging upon this topic, but I cannot forbear once more calling the attention of our friends to the value of the Sundayschool, when conducted in an enlightened

and earnest spirit, as a nursery for the Church and an efficacious instrument for the conversion of precious souls.

MANCHESTER NORTH CIRCUIT.-TESTIMONIAL TO MR. JOHN SPARROW.During the erection of Salem Chapel, our tried friend, Mr. John Sparrow, honourably distinguished himself by the attention, zeal, and ability with which he gratuitously acted as clerk of the works. To the services he so ably rendered, the satisfactory manner in which the building was completed may justly be attributed. The trustees, feeling the obligation to render honour to whom honour is due, and anxious to place on permanent record their high appreciation of those services, and their grateful acknowledg ment of them, have had the following testimonial engrossed and framed :

"METHODIST NEW CONNEXION. "Salem Chapel, Strangeways, Man

chester.

"We, the undersigned Trustees, at our first annual meeting, feeling deeply indebted to Mr. John Sparrow for the very able and zealous manner in which he has discharged the arduous and responsible duties as clerk of the works from the commencement to the completion of the building, and wishing to place on permanent record our appreciation of the value of his voluntary and gratuitous services, and our conviction that it is in a great measure owing to the intelligence and assiduity he has so uniformly displayed that the chapel has been completed in so satisfactory a manner, adopt this method of presenting him with our most cordial thanks, wishing him every temporal and spiritual blessing.

Large scale bounden pipes attached to German pedals, two octaves and a third. Pedal organ, from CCC to E. Bounden eight feet stops. Pedal couplet to great organ. Great organ to swell. Couplers -pedals to great organ, pedal pipes, swell to great organ. Four composition pedals: 1st. Dulciana and stop diapason, bass. 2nd. Open diapason; stop diapason, bass; claribella, dulciana. 3rd. Full organ to fifteenth. 4th. Full organ without trumpet.

The tone of the instrument is sweet, full, rich, and brilliant. The case is in the Grecian Doric style of architecture, after a design by our excellent friend, Mr. S. Holt, painted white with gilt speaking-pipes, and beautifully harmonizes with the architecture and interior fitting-up of the chapel. The entire cost of the organ, and the placing of it in the chapel, is £200. Great credit is due to our esteemed friend, Mr. J. Turner, for the indefatigable attention and superior ability with which he has superintended the building and placing of this beautiful instrument. The opening-services were held on Sunday, Nov. 28th, when the Rev. John White, of Ashton, preached two effective sermons, and the handsome sum of £83 was collected. Mr. Rawson ably presided at the organ, and the choir creditably performed select pieces of sacred music. The liberality of our friends deserves special commendation, and it is pleasing to record that arrangements are being made by which the entire cost of the organ will be defrayed.

Manchester, Dec. 7th, 1852. J. G. OPENING OF A NEW SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND REVIVAL-SERVICES AT KNUTTON, HANLEY CIRCUIT. On Lord's-day, November the 14th, 1852, the opening services in behalf of Knutton New

School were conducted by the Rev. Wm. Mills, who preached two excellent sermons on the occasion to crowded congregations, when the power of the Most High was most eminently felt, especially during the evening service. The day was very unfavourable, the rain descended in torrents, which made much against us; but the sum realized was as much as was expected, seeing the friends had been drained by previous donations.

The school forms a convenient addition to the chapel, being so constructed that it is a real enlargement of the place and answers the purpose of a private school. The improvement has been contemplated for years, but the time has never arrived till now to effect the purpose.

The Lord has most graciously visited our Zion with an outpouring of his Holy Spirit. In heaven his dwellingplace he has heard our prayers and cries, and, moved by our earnest intreaties, has mightily put forth his power to save. The Society here has for a long time been stationary, averaging for many years about twenty members; and as old friends have died the increase has only been such as to supply their places, and keep up the standing army. While in this state, the means were truly precious, and the friends cordially united; but many anxieties were felt for the success of the word, and many earnest and agonizing prayers were sent up in behalf of our little Church. Early in the present year a meeting was held in Bethesda vestry to consider the best means of promoting a general revival of the work of God, when a special day for humiliation and prayer was appointed; and after this a series of revival-services through the Circuit. The friends at Knutton agreed to hold their first prayer-meeting at five o'clock in the morning, another at twelve, and another at seven in the evening. The writer of this was at the chapel about a quar ter before five, and when he had lighted the place he sang the whole of the hymn, beginning, "Come ye that love the Lord," &c., before any others made their appearance; but at length he had plenty to help him both to sing and pray, and a comfortable time we had. As many of the friends as could, met again in the chapel again at noon, and those who could not, did not forget the season of their labour, but united together in the bowels of the earth to seek the Divine assistance; and again in the evening they met together in the chapel. Mr. Ephraim Curzon opened the revival services, when two souls were

awakened, but did not find peace. There was nothing remarkable on the Monday evening; and the weather being unfavourable, the attendance was rather small; but on Tuesday evening the Lord came to his own work, and the awakening process was carried on; and on Wednesday one of the newly-awakened ones publicly declared that the Lord had set his soul at liberty, and he was happy in God. Hitherto we had been having the drops, and for them we were thankful; but now the shower came, and the Lord poured floods on the dry ground. Under Mr. Lynn's prayer this evening everyone seemed to be borne down; the fact is, the Lord was come to his temple, and he made the place of his feet glorious. The services continued through the week, and the interest increased as we proceeded; and on Saturday evening, at the close of the band-meeting, it was unanimously resolved to continue the services another week. Little did we think what the Lord was about to do. We were borne on by divine influence far beyond our most sanguine expectations. When the Lord had brought eleven to himself, we thought he had done wonders; but in the course of the next week we had to witness from eleven to fourteen saved on a night. It did not signify who the preacher was, there was a spirit of prayer poured out upon the Church, which secured such an abundant measure of divine influence that no one could enter our little Bethel without acknowledging, "This is indeed the house of God."

We continued our services for five weeks without ceasing for one evening, and at last it became so habitual we should have looked for it as for our daily toil, but our strength failed, so we found it necessary to abridge our labours. We pass by the many ardent, wrestling, agonizing instances of prayer, and the laborious and zealous efforts

made by preaching, and say, "Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy everblessed name be all the glory for bringing a hundred souls to thyself." The news of such a revival spread far and wide, and people came for miles to witness the scene, and hear our excellent preachers; and not a few returned to their distant homes new creatures. addition to our own society was about sixty, most of whom are still with us, and are "walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost." We still continue our Sunday evening prayer-meetings, and have two prayer-meetings during the week, which

The