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The Orissa Conference.

senr., on selling tracts and gospels. The Secretary to reply.

11. Desirableness of having a tract on Popery felt. No minute adopted.

12. Educational works in Oriya much needed.

(a.) Great regret was expressed at the paucity of our supply of educational works, especially that we have no copies of Dictionary in English and Oriya, or Oriya and English.

(b.) The Conference expressed its satisfaction on hearing that brother Miller bad prepared copy for English and Oriya Dictionary, and if the brethren in charge of the press can see their way clear to print it, we shall warmly approve. (c.) Brother Brooks requested to devote his attention to the preparation of an Oriya and English Dictionary.

(d.) We think it highly desirable to have as soon as practicable other school books, especially on geography and arithmetic.

VIII. NATIVE PREACHERS.

1. The following met with us at one of our sittings:-Preachers, Sebo Patra, Pursua Rout, Kombho Naik, Jagoo Roul, Paul Sing, Makunda Das, Shem Sahu, Haran Das, and Makunda Sahu. Students, George Das, Anunta Das, and Bhobanee Sahu. Scripture Readers or Assistants, Ram Chundra, Bhikari, Narain, and John Jenna. Prayer was offered by Sebo Patra and Pursua. Much information was given the brethren on the business of Conference, and their opinions were solicited on various points.

2. Thoma having unhappily fallen into sin, his name was erased from the list. The chairman to write a suitable letter to the church at Northgate, Louth, informing them of this unhappy cir

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And at Khoorda, subject not to the Conference but the Auxiliary Mission, Shem Sahu and Sanantani, assistant.

4.-Salary of Haran increased one rupee per mensem.

5.- Application for increase from Makunda Sahu not entertained. Two other applications from this brother left with brother Brooks.

IX. TREASURER'S ACCOUNTS.

The Treasurer's accounts for different Societies were examined and passed.

X. REPORT, CORRESPONDENCE, &C. 1. The Secretary to edit the Indian Report, as usual.

2. Brother T. Bailey to send a report of this Conference to the Freeman and Nonconformist, also to Morning Star and Christian Freeman in America.

3. An interesting report given by brother Bailey of his visit as our representative to the meeting of the Northern Orissa brethren.

4. Brother J. L. Phillips's letter to be answered by the Secretary. Resolved, That we are much gratified to learn that our representative, brother T. Bailey, in connection with Shem Sahu and Kombho Naik, added greatly to the interest of the meeting at Santipore; that we heard with satisfaction of a delegate being appointed by them to attend this Conference, and regret that through unavoidable circumstances the appointment could not be fulfilled; and that we are much interested to hear that brother J. L. Phillips hopes, if God permit, to attend our next Conference.

5. The Secretary reported his correspondence with J. Murdoch, Esq.

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Letter read from Rev. T. Goadby, B.A., respecting contributions Orissa to the Centenary Bazaar. The object was warmly sympathized with, and it was hoped that a general box would be sent.

7. The Secretary to acknowledge the recent contributions to the Mission Library by Major H. D. B. Smith. The reports from the several stations were given at the close.

The next Conference to be held at Cuttack, and the sermons to be preached on the 1st or 2nd Sabbath in November. The first Oriya sermon to be preached by brother Tama Patra; the second by the brother who may be the delegate

from the Northern Orissa Mission; brother Miller in case of failure. The English sermon by brother T. Bailey.

Other arrangements for Conference:The examination of students and Scripture readers to be before the sittings of Conference. Brethren Brooks and Bailey to examine the students; brethren Buckley, Miller, and Taylor to examine the Scripture readers. Suitable native brethren to be united with the missionaries in both examinations.

Agreed, That we think a brief daily service during the sittings of Conference very desirable.

The chairman closed the Conference by solemn prayer.

The public services of this Conference commenced on Lord's-day, Feb. 6th. Brother Kombho Naik preached in the morning from Matt. ix. 38; brother Taylor in the afternoon from Matt. v. 16; and brother Buckley in English in the evening from Matt. xvi. 18.

On Thursday evening, Feb. 10, the native missionary meeting was held. Babu D. R. Rout presided. Prayer was offered by Sebo Patra aud Jagoo.

Addresses were delivered by Tama, Paul, Shem, and Makunda Das.

The Lord's supper was administered on the 13th, when the Oriya address was delivered by Ghanushyam from 1 Cor. xi. 26; and the one in English by brother Miller, from Psalm cxvi. 12. The attendance at all the Oriya services was very considerable.

In behalf of the Conference,
WILLIAM MILLER.

A GOOD EXAMPLE.

Ar a missionary breakfast in connection with the London Missionary Society at Leicester a few days ago, a gentleman present forwarded a note to the chairman in which he suggested the desirableness of increasing the scale of annual contributions to the Society, and offered to subscribe five pounds a year if nine other gentlemen would do the same. The challenge was speedily accepted, and before the meeting terminated the names of fourteen gentlemen were enrolled as subscribers of five pounds a year each, thus making a considerable addition to the income of the Leicester Auxiliary.

FOREIGN LETTERS RECEIVED.
CUTTACK.-J. Buckley, February 23, March 3, 10, 25.

CONTRIBUTIONS

Received on account of the General Baptist Missionary Society, from

March 18, to April 18, 1870.

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Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the General Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by T. HILL, Esq., Baker Street, Nottingham, Treasurer; and by the Rev. J. C. PIKE and the Rev. H. WILKINSON, Secretaries, Leicester, from whom also Missionary Boxes, Collecting Books, and Cards may be obtained.

Hucknall Torkard

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London, Commercial Road

Lougborough, Woodgate
Louth, Northgate

New Basford...

Nottingham, Broad Street

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Rocester ... Wolvey Wymeswold

Prospect Place

THE

GENERAL BAPTIST MAGAZINE.

JUNE, 1870.

OUR CENTENARY ASSOCIATION-THE PROSPECT.

THE forthcoming meetings connected with the Centenary of the New Connexion of General Baptists must necessarily have a unique interest. In addition to the ordinary attractions of the annual gathering of the ministers and representatives of the churches, the circumstance of this being our Second Jubilee Year will lend additional charms and wider range to our recollections of the past, and clothe with superior power our preparations for and anticipations of the future. The time is eminently favourable to useful reflection, cordial thanksgiving, heroical effort, careful readjustment of our institutions to meet the altered conditions that surround us, and to bold and effective plans for increased usefulness in days to come.

It is not without reason that we meet from year to year. These general assemblings every successive June are in perfect harmony with all the instincts of human life, the teaching and example of Scripture, and the actual necessities of our Christian and church experience. "In the beginning," God set lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night, and said, "Let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and for years." Nature is a well constructed piece of admirably arranged clock-work.

VOL. LXXII.-NEW SERIES, No. 6.

Periodicity is almost a universal law.
It shines in the heavens above, is
written on the earth beneath, and
sounded forth in the surging waters
under the earth. The stars illus-
trate it in their courses, and the
trees in their blossom and fruit.
Flowers obey it in their vernal
beauty, and birds in their melodious
song. Home life is richer and
sweeter by conformity to it, and
even vast empires cannot escape its
grasp.
"All
It is everywhere.
things by season, seasoned are to
their just praise and due perfec-
tion." Civilization and calendars go
together as summer seas and melting
ice. Nations, like families, have
great festal days when the heart is
stirred with patriotic feeling, and a
lagging faith in political virtue is
quickened in its beat by the vision
of the memorials of the "fathers of
liberty." Nor has religion, which
rejects nothing that can minister to
human good, failed to introduce
amongst its recipients the healthy
practise of remembering at appro-
priate periods, "all the way the Lord
hath led us." Moses told the He-
brews to look at life as in God, and
at all its details, painful and plea-
sant, in the wilderness and in Egypt,
as under His direction: and the
ordinances of the year were so ar-
ranged as to rouse the sluggish heart.

to think of the miracles He wrought in Goshen, and of His wonders in the land of Ham. The Passover was a yearly moving panorama recalling the events of the years of oppression and of the night of freedom. Pentecost offered the first sheaf of harvest to God in joyful acknowledgment of His claim on the whole: and the Feast of Tabernacles, like our Centenary Association, blended together thankful reminiscence and adoring praise. Dark and dread was the day to the Jews when these festivals were slighted, and the "tribes of the Lord came not up to the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord." Individual virtue lost its fire. Domestic devotion smouldered and decayed. Worship faded away. God was forgotten. The sympathetic stimulus of gathered multitudes crowding the temple gates, and the rousing force of a vigorous review of past deliverances were wanting, and therefore the people gradually lapsed into idolatry. Nor till the revival of the national passover celebrations by some wise religious reformer as Hezekiah or Josiah did lethargy give place to activity, and death to life. But as in unbroken troops they came again from every part of the land, and shared in the common memories of Israel's history, and the common worship of Israel's God, they felt themselves warming anew with love to the God of their fathers, and with resolution to serve and obey Him. They were brought nearer to God because they were nearer to each other in brotherly sympathy and common dependence. They forgot their isolation, and escaped out of the stifling gloom of their selfishness as they rose into the pure atmosphere of a national act of adoration and

praise. Individual piety was renewed, like the youth of the eagle. The fire of devotion was rekindled on the domestic hearth. Worship blossomed into beautiful promise again, and once more God was

"closer than their breathing, nearer than hands and feet."

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And surely since our double Jubilee crowds into itself the memories of a hundred years; and the vast stores of a century of heavenly power and grace wait to be called forth by thought and directed by winged words, it shall be as the multitude of them that believe come together" that our hearts shall burn within us with new love to the Lord Christ, and we shall " go from strength to strength" in our endeavours to promote the glory of His kingdom. Zeal for His house will reach a higher pitch of intensity. Enthusiasm will be baptized into His love. Personal religion will thrive as we feel that we are 'one body," one brotherhood, engaged in a common service for God and men. Convictions of duty will stand forth to the mind with more sharpness of outline, and the boldness that flags in secret, and cowers before some tempting Peter, who fain would dissuade us from going up to the Jerusalem of self-sacrifice because we must "suffer many things of the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed;-will mount with the occasion as we are reminded that the "third day we shall be raised again." May it be when the day of our Centenary is fully come, and we are all gathered together with one accord in one place, that the Holy Ghost shall fill the place where we are sitting, and endue us with power to go forth as His witnesses to the ends of the earth!

The records of "A Century's labour for the Lord" will deservedly occupy a prominent place at these meetings. Dan Taylor will live again amongst us. His indomitable zeal, irresistible pluck, and uncon querable zest for work will shame our lazy droning life, and force us to attempt greater things for God. The Barton preachers, though dead, will speak to a larger audience from their graves than ever listened to

Our Centenary Association-the Prospect.

them while here. The sublime courage and patient faith of those brave souls who planted a colony for Christ in the very strongholds of Hindoo superstition and idolatry will bid us beware of even seeming to take our hands from the plough after having driven it through much of the hard and rocky soil of the East. "The dead but sceptred monarchs who still rule our spirits from their urns" will hover about us as we commune together of the ways of the Lord, and unitedly say to us from the excellent glory, "Quit you like men. Up from your indolence. Quick! Time is short. Eternity opens its gates. Men are perishing. The Lord is at hand."

Sitting under the shadow of the tree our fathers planted we cannot forget the day when a few of them went forth with mingled fear and faith sustained by the feeling of supreme loyalty to Christ, to prepare the soil and secure the propitious dews of heaven. We must look in upon that little company gathered at the old meeting-house in Church Lane, near Commercial Road, London, to form the NEW CONNEXION of General Baptists. Strongly averse to the doctrines maintained by the leading men of the Old Assembly with regard to the Person and Work of Christ; and dissatisfied with the spirit that reigned amongst them-apparently a cold, critical, and disputatious spirit, indifferent to personal religion and evangelical enterprise-Dan Taylor and the Barton Baptists and a few others felt that they must go back at once to the faith and practise of the General Baptists of 1611, and to the Christianity of apostolic times. They took the name of "Free Grace" General Baptists, and put in the front the absolute necessity of personal and experimental religion, and of the revival of primitive Christianity, and found in their practical aim, Christ-honouring creed and intense life, the sources of their

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early progress and the basis of their subsequent and enlarged prosperity. How the work thus commenced has grown, what errors have been committed, what institutions have been born and nurtured into manhood, and what are our present needs, will not all this be faithfully recorded in the chronicles of this Centenary year?

But after all, the best way of honouring the dead is not to build up their sepulchres but to finish their work. Woe to those who rear a lofty monument to David and crucify David's Son and Lord! We register the results of past efforts so that we may direct and increase the energies of the church for the future with a surer aim and to larger issues. Two things now demand our attention: the perfection of our organization as a body of believers, and a fuller baptism into the evangelizing spirit. In the processes of disintegration that are coming up amongst us those churches will stand the safest and render the largest service which combine unity of faith, effort and life, in such a manner as to support the weak, guide the erring, protect the exposed, and gather together the whole religious power of the community, and at the same time leave the largest allowable margin for the free action of the separate churches represented in such an assembly. Disunion will be weakness to a far greater extent than it has been, and therefore if we are wise and understand the needs of the times we shall perfect our organization in all its parts, so that while it allows free scope for the fullest life, it shall at the same time put up barriers in the way of retrogression, nurse into strength the feeblest infant life, and gather up the fragments of religious power so that nothing is lost. Now our organization, though not perfect, is our vantage ground, and we must not on any account forego it. Some who probably do not understand us

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