St. James', Calderbrook, All Saints', Hamer, St Paul's, Norden, Christ Church, Friezland, and Christ Church, Denshaw, had been built; whilst a mission house had been taken at Newbold, and St. James', Milnrow, was to be rebuilt, -the funds having been provided. (Applause.)

Coming now to what had been done in regard to schools, the Sparrow Hill and Ann Street schools had been built, the Grammar School rebuilt on a new site, St. Bartholomew's school enlarged, schools built at Healey, Walsden, Wardle, Hamer, Norden, Friezland, Denton, and Newhey. In connection with St. Alban's, Rochdale, two schools had been built,-one adjacent to the freehold, the other on Townmill Brow; at St. Martin's a school was rented, at Calderbrook there was a school in a cottage, and both at Milnrow and at Smallbridge the schools were to be enlarged. (Applause.)

'Now he (Mr. Brierley) appealed to the meeting whether the Bishop had not been rather hard on this district in making such a charge as he had? (Hear, hear.) He had omitted to say, in reference to the school they were assembled in, that the Vicar had contributed most handsomely to it, and look at the many thousands-20,000 or 30,000-who had been educated here, and the number of teachers it had sent forth under the present master and his worthy predecessor, Mr. Wrigley. (Applause.)

When all the work he had cited had been done, this parish could not be called a "dark," but rather a bright, spot in the diocese. (Much applause.) The Grammar School, again, would not have been built but for the exertions of their worthy Vicar, and he (Mr. Brierley) did think him worthy of the thanks of that great meeting, and also of the parish. (Applause.)

More had been done since Dr. Molesworth's advent as Vicar, than between that period and the Reformation, and he was at a loss to know what could explain-for “justify was not an applicable word-the Bishop's uncalled-for attack.' (Applause.)

Mr. Lancashire, who had for the moment taken the chair, said that,' undoubtedly, Mr. Brierley,-from whom it came with great authority,-had fulfilled the very thing that was wanted, and, in fact, discharged the most important duty of the night by his vindication of Dr. Molesworth, a vindication that would be endorsed, not in Rochdale alone, but for miles around.' (Applause.)

Dr. Molesworth, whose rise was the signal for a renewal of the acclamations, thus referred to the attack of the Bishop :

'Brethren,-I do not think it necessary for me to make any remarks upon the slur cast upon me in another place, both on account of the position of him who offered it, and, also, because I have no reason to rely for my defence on excuses or speeches. (Loud applause.) I would rather rely upon my life among you. (Renewed applause.) I have lived a considerable portion of my life among youmore than twenty-five years—and I am willing to trust my character to your own experience of what I have done amongst you, and wish to do.

'One may be liable to error of judgment, as well as other people, but I am perfectly conscious of my good intentions, and my anxiety to do my duty, both as relates to your future and present state. (Loud applause.)

'I have but one general feeling, and hope my life will be the proper answer to any aspersions cast upon me.' (Rapturous and long continued applause.)

The proceedings were closed with the Benediction.

Some years afterwards a clergyman, who had been brought into Rochdale parish to be a thorn in the side' of the vicar, fell into sad difficulties, and he said that, before he came to Rochdale, he was told by the Bishop he would find a bitter enemy in Dr. Molesworth; whereas, in fact, Dr. Molesworth had been the only one who had befriended him in his troubles.

LATER YEARS

DR. LEE, Bishop of Manchester, was succeeded by Bishop Fraser, a man of very different stamp, with whom Dr. Molesworth was soon on terms of the most intimate and warm friendship.

With Dr. Fraser all recent troubles passed away, and the remainder of Dr. Molesworth's life was happy and peaceful, but by no means inactive. He still continued his strenuous defence of the Church, his efforts for religious education, his leadership of all movements for the benefit of his fellow townsmen and countrymen, his devotion to his parochial duties, and his visitation of his flock. After the stirring times of the Church rates, personal hostility to him died away; no vicar has ever been so upheld by his people; no congregation had a more conscientious and faithful pastor.

It has been truly said that Lancashire men always, in the long run, admire a man of strong character and fearlessness. The opposition with which he was met, at the commencement of his ministry, gradually toned down, until it died altogether, and was succeeded by an esteem more lasting than the hostile feeling with which he was first received.

His generosity to every good cause was only exceeded by his earnestness in watching over the spiritual welfare of his parish; and it is known that the money he expended for Church purposes, for public benefit, for charitable purposes, private but unrecorded, in one direction or another, must have been enormous.

The progress of the Church had been remarkable. One of the old inhabitants said:

What surprised me most that has happened during my lifetime, is the resurrection of the Church in Rochdale. When Dr. Molesworth came it seemed to have no life in it; to be quite dead.