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Church Register.

Baptist, not one of the boys had ever heard him, in the school, express his views on the subject of baptism; that he had proved it possible to impart Scriptural knowledge without dogmatic teaching; and that, in his opinion, the Bible ought not to be excluded from our schools. After the examination, more than five hundred persons-exclusive of children-partook of tea, the trays being gratuitously furnished. In the evening at six o'clock, a concert was given under the admirable leadership of Mr. Dennis. Instrumental and vocal assistance was received from Ashby, Burton, Derby, Hinckley, Hugglescote, Leicester, &c.; and where all acquitted themselves so well, special praise would be invidious. The proceeds of tea and evening collection amounted to nearly £45.

SCHOOL SERMONS. ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH.-June 26. Preacher, Rev. I. Preston. Collections, £29.

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BRADFORD, Tetley Street. July 10. Preacher, Rev. B. Wood. Address by Mr. James Hardaker. Collections, £50.

CASTLE DONINGTON.-May 8. Preacher, Collections, Rev. W. Taylor, of Leeds. £16 1s. 1d.

CROWLE.-July 3. Preacher, Rev. J. Stutterd. Tea and public meeting on Monday. Mr. B. S. Mayhew, of Misterton, in the chair. Addresses by the Revs. J. J. Dalton, J. Fogg, J. Thornton, T. Ashwell, and J. Stutterd. Collections, £12 5s.

KIRTON-IN-LINDSEY.-June 12. Preacher, R. Smart, of Grimsby. The best anniversary for many years.

MILFORD (Derby).-June 26. Preachers, R. Snape, Esq., of Calf Heath, and Rev. T. Goadby, B.A.

SAWLEY.-June 19. Preacher, Rev. D' McCallum. Public tea on Monday following. Collections, &c., after paying for children's treat, £18 15s.

TODMORDEN.-June 26. Preacher, Rev. W. Evans. Collections, £32 11s. 4d.

WINDLEY.-June 19. Preacher, Mr. W. Millington, of Derby. Collection in advance of any previous year.

RECOGNITION SERVICES.

NEW BASFORD. A very interesting meeting was held on Monday, July 4, in connection with the commencement of the pastorate of the Rev. J. Felstead, late of Chilwell College. About 170 sat down to tea; the Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A., presiding at the public meeting following. Rev. J. Wolfenden prayed. Mr. J. Edwards stated the circumstances that led to the

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call of Mr. Felstead to the pastorate. The Rev. J. Felstead then delivered a powerful and stirring speech, giving his impressions and views in reference to the work he had undertaken. The Rev. W. Underwood, D.D., then addressed the minister, and giving some appropriate counsel advice in reference to his future course. The chairman then gave the charge to the church, expressing his anxious desire for the future prosperity of both pastor and people. The Rev. F. A. Charles (Baptist) and the Rev. M. Booth (Free Church Methodist) offered their hearty gratulations.

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REV. J. S. COLVILLE was recognized as pastor of the church, Market Harborough, July 13. Rev. G. Rogers gave the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. T. R. Stevenson that to the church. Most of the neighbouring ministers took part in the services. The statement on behalf of the church showed that the church had increased from fifteen to sixty members under Mr. Colville's ministrations.

CENTENARY SERVICE.

QUORNDON.

In connection with the last Midland Conference (see Magazine, p. 214), the church at this place held a most interesting Centenary meeting in commemoration of the chapel being a hundred years old. T. Hill, Esq., presided. The Rev. T. Bumpus, pastor of the church, gave a brief sketch of the history of the church at Quorn, and the Revs. Dr. Underwood, T. Goadby, B.A., J. Stevenson, M.A., J. C. Pike, and I. Stubbins gave addresses. The meeting was prolonged to a late hour, and maintained its interest to the close.

MINISTERIAL.

DERBY AND DERBYSHIRE BAPTIST PREACHERS' ASSOCIATION.-The ninth conference was held at Windley, June 20. Afternoon-the business of the Association was transacted. Evening public meeting. Mr. Staynes, of Chilwell College, presided. Addresses were given as follows: Mr. W. Millington-"Facts connected with General Baptist History." Mr. W. Abell-"Sunday school training: its means and end." Mr. J. Warren"The best Book." Mr. G. Slack-" The principles of church government revealed in the Bible."-G. SLACK, Secretary.

FAREWELL SERVICE.-Rev. J. Fletcher.— On June 25 a tea and public meeting was held at Vale, to bid farewell to the Rev. J. Fletcher. Rev. J. Maden presided. Mr.

S. Sutcliffe, one of the deacons, addressed the meeting, and presented Mr. Fletcher with a purse containing £30, as the gift of the church, and ten guineas as the voluntary offerings at the tea. These gifts were appropriately acknowledged by Mr. Fletcher. Addresses were given by Revs. W. Howard and W. Evans.

REV. R. INGHAM, D.D.--The Christian Freeman states that the degree of D.D. was conferred upon the Rev. Richard Ingham, of Halifax, England, at the recent anniversary of Hillsdale College.

REV. W. BAILEY wishes us to state that he has removed from Wymeswold to 2, Upper King Street, Leicester, prior to his departure for India.

BAPTISMS.

BARTON.-June 5, one; July 3, three; by W. Hill.

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Obituaries.

PLOWRIGHT-John Plowright was born at Hathern, 1794. Being apprenticed in Nottingham, he attended Stoney Street chapel, where he early sought and found Christ, united with the church, and forthwith devoted himself to school work both at home and in the villages around Nottingham. When about twenty years of age he began to preach at the village of Bulwell. For twenty-seven years he followed the occupation of toll-keeper, which necessitated frequent change of residence; but everywhere he was diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Our venerable brother was one of the founders of the Stoney Street Preachers Plan. In 1849, he, and nine others (of whom only four remain), formed the General Baptist Preachers' Union. He also was one of the originators of the Midland Lay Preachers' Association and was elected president for the present year. Mr. Plowright appeared to possess two distinct ideas of the Christian life-decision for Christ, and readiness for heaven. An early admirer of his preaching, and emphatic manner, styled him "The Old Rock." He was never deterred from duty by trifles; it is stated by a near relative, that one Sabbath when Mr. Plowright was ready to leave him for a distant appointment, he accidentally upset

the food he had prepared for his sick wife For a moment he felt perplexed; but a sense of duty urged him to hastily promise another supply, and run off with all speed to preach the word of life. "Woe is me," he frequently repeated, "if I preach not the gospel." A few days before our veteran friend put off the armour for his crown, one of his family remarked to him, "Father, you are better to-day," when in reply, and these were nearly his last words, he calmly whispered, "Yes, you may think so, but the trumpet will sound soon." He was emphatically an " Itinerant," having preached fifty-five years, walked 80,000 miles, and preached 5,000 sermons. He was proverbially punctual. "Duty is ours," he was wont to say, "events belong to God." He preached his last sermon at Arnold, April 23; departed in peace, May 3; and was interred by the Rev. S. Cox, in the General Cemetery, May 7, 1870, aged seventy-six. His ashes there, in many places his name.

OAKES.-June 14, Sarah Jane, only daughter of Thomas Oakes, Gerrard Street, Halifax, in her twenty-fourth year.

GREEN.-June 30, aged thirty-three, Eliza Mary, wife of Mr. W. Green, 7, Carlton Terrace, Mansfield, and only child of Mr. Edward Fisher, Nottingham.

Missionary Observer.

LETTER FROM REV. G. TAYLOR.

Berhampore, May 25, 1870.

I HAVE long wished to write you a few lines about our good brother Anthrovady. For though not connected with us directly, either in fellowship or labour, yet I am persuaded that the information I have to give of him and his labours, will afford interest to all who have Mission work at heart.

Anthrovady is a converted Teligu, and the mess writer of the 41st regiment, now at Cuttack; and it was when passing through Berhampore to that station, that, some two years ago, I had the pleasure and privilege to make his acquaintance. During my interview with him on that occasion, I ascertained that for some years he had been labouring as an evangelist in the regiment, and that God had so blessed his labours, that about forty persons belonging to his regiment had been truly converted and "buried with Christ in baptism." That these believers had formed themselves into a church, and elected him their pastor; and that in that capacity he had for some time preached the Word, and had administered to them the ordinances of divine appointment. That the people of his charge had earnestly wished him to accept payment for his services, but that, as the Lord had otherwise provided for his wants, he greatly preferred to serve them gratuitously; feeling that he was thus perfectly free to act and speak as duty dictated, while he was amply compensated for all his toil by his great joy in the Lord, and the success with which it pleased Him to crown his labours.

Being in Berhampore on the evening of an English prayer meeting, he was present at that service, and afterwards took supper with our native friends, who were highly delighted with his conversation and spirit.

I afterwards learned that our good Colonel and Major had previously known him, and that they entertained a very high opinion of him, and were convinced that he was doing a great work among the Sepoys of the 41st.

After he had been at Cuttack for some few months, he wrote me, making a

pressing request for gospels and tracts in Tamil and Teligu, for distribution; and thus afforded me an opportunity of assisting him in the important work in which he is engaged. In reply, he wrote me a very pleasing account of his labours, and stated how helpful the books sent had been to him. This letter I had intended sending you, but unfortunately I have mislaid it, and it is now nowhere to be found.

By way of explaining what follows, I may say that about a year ago I received a long letter from our valued friend and christian brother, Captain Alexanderto whom at Gravesend nearly four years ago we were introduced by brother Wilkinson-and in whose cabin during the voyage out we enjoyed so many precious seasons of communion with each other, and with our blessed Lord; and in this letter Captain A. proposed to establish throughout India a "Saturday night Union Prayer Meeting," and begged I would help him all I could to carry out this project. Accordingly we began a meeting of this kind for Europeans, and one for our native christians, at Berhampore; and on visiting Cuttack for Conference in February, I brought the subject to the notice, first of our Missionary brethren (whom I found had a Saturday night prayer meeting), and then invited our brother Anthrovady to commence one in "The church in the regiment," as his little charge is called, handing him at the same time Captain A.'s letter.

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During my brief stay in Cuttack, he called at brother Miller's once and again, and one day he brought with him a dozen fine looking fellows from the regiment, some of whom were members of his church, two or three candidates, and others earnest inquirers after truth. It was really a pleasing sight. Our friends the Millers' and myself were quite affected by it. After a lengthy conversation, during which, at the pastor's request, we sought to encourage the candidates and inquirers especially, Anthrovady proposed we should have prayer; and, at Brother Miller's request, I prayed in English, and our friend translated sentence by sentence into Telugu, for the benefit of his little flock present. And truly blessed was that

season of prayer; we all "felt it good to be there."

It is to the candidates we met on this occasion, and under the above circumstances, to whom Anthrovady refers in his letter to me of April 30th, which I have the pleasure to send. I feel sure that the perusal of this communication will not fail to awaken very great interest in our brother's labours, and deep sympathy with the newly-baptized, who are being called to suffer so much for Christ's sake. While I trust that in their prayers for the spread of the Redeemer's kingdom, the people of God will remember the little "Church in the Regiment," and our good friend Anthrovady.

Before concluding, I must tell you how grateful to our depressed spirits was the telegraphic message informing us of a forthcoming reinforcement! May the Lord richly bless the committee and friends in connection with the efforts now being made to supply the most urgently needed help; and may those sent out come to us in the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of Christ!

Cuttack, 30th April, 1870.

TO THE REV. MR. TAYLOR

Dear Sir,-You will be glad to hear out of our candidates, whom you have seen in Cuttack, three of them put on Christ by public baptism on the 10th inst., in the river Mahanuddy, when a large number of Hindoos and Mohammedans, about five hundred, attend, when I have preached the glad tidings and holded the banner of Christ and the last judgment, unless they repent every one of them and be baptized, &c., &c. To the fulfilment of the Scripture the the converts been persecuted, and up to this day they are under extreme trials, both by their household and friends, and they consider them the most lowest of all degraded. Their own mothers and wives become dead enemies, and the daily conspiracy against them to separate their children and wives from them. The gospels we sold to them, and given gratuitously previous to this, been torn to pieces and thrown into the streets. Ramamijooloo is the regimental schoolmaster, an inquirer for the twelve years, having good many blood relations in the regiment as native commissioned officers;

and well-to-do mother, father, wife, daughter, &c., and are mourning for him, thinking that he become outcast. The other is Vencutachettum-lance noigur, having mother, two brothers, wife, &c.-equally persecuted, but the Lord has blessed him that his household allowed him to come into the entrance of their house, and there he to take his meals. And the third is John Josephhis troubles and trials limited. The Lord is very dear and near to them, and they are so far very firm in the Lord and His gospel. One candidate, named Appelsworung, is through his old mother by dashing her head against the wall, &c., bleeded and fainted at the time of his being joining us for baptism— his poor heart gave way and looked back, and is drawn away by the devil for the time being. However, we receive news from him of his welfare. If the Lord pleases he will no doubt will come too. He is under strictest confinement of his friends and relatives just now.

Please pray for them and for the church in the regiment, and also forget not me as a sinner, as I require much help of your and God's people's prayer. May God bless you and yours evermore.

Kindly remember me to Mrs. Taylor and all the dear people of God. The whole members of our church tendered their christian love to you. I am, Rev. Sir,

Your obedient servant,
D. ANTHROVADY.

MAKING A BUSINESS OF
GIVING.

THE article below is translated from "The Messenger," a paper printed in Turkish and Armenian, at Constantinople, and was written by the pastor of one of the largest evangelical churches in the Turkish Empire. May it not have something in it worth consideration farther west ?

"The following sections show the kind, and as far as possible the amounts, of the contributions for religious uses demanded of the Jews:

"1. The Levitical tithe. And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's is holy unto the Lord. And of

Making a Business of Giving.

the herd or of the flock... the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.'-Lev. xxvii. 30, 32. 'And behold I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for the service which they serve.'-Numb. xviii. 21.

"2. The Feast, or Poor tithe. This tithe, mentioned Deut. xiv. 22-29, xxvi. 12-15, was a different tithe from the one mentioned above, as is evident from the fact that the first was devoted to the support of the Levites, while this, occurring only once in three years, was partly consumed in sacrificial feasts, and given to the Levite, stranger, orphan, and widow.

"3. The First-born. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the first-born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast; it is mine.'Ex. xiii. 1, 2. See also verses 11-16, and Numb. xviii. 15-18, where the redemption money is appointed, amounting, in the case of a man, to about three dollars in gold.

"4. The First-fruits. The first of the first-fruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God.'-Ex. xxiii. 19. See also Lev. xxiii. 9-14 and Deut. xxvi. 2—11. It is said by Jews that this, although not appointed as to quantity, might be a twentieth of the crop.

"5. The Census-tax. 'And the Lord spake to Moses, When thou takest the number of the children of Israel, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord,' &c.-Ex. xxx. 11-16. The amount was about thirty cents in gold.

"Besides the above permanent and appointed contributions, the Jews gave many others for religious and benevolent purposes, some of which are as follows:

"1. The Sanctuary-gifts. When necessary for its building and repair, large voluntary contributions were brought. Ex. xxv. 1-9; 1 Chron. xxix. 6—9; 2 Kings xii. 4-16.

"2. Sacrifices. It is plain from Leviticus, first chapter to fifth, how great an expense to the Jews must have been their numerous and varied sacrifices.

"3. Vows and Offerings. These are mentioned as among the free-will contributions in Leviticus, twenty-seventh chapter.

4. The Jubilee year (Lev. xxv. 1-7; Deut. xv. 1-18) entailed no

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small loss to the Israelite. His land lay fallow, his debtors were released, and slaves went free. This, in the seventh, and again in the forty-ninth years, even more completely-and so onerously— must be observed.

"All these contributions of the Jews must, it would seem, have consumed nearly half their income. And when they faithfully performed their duty in respect to these contributions, God promised to bless them with special blessings. Mal. iii. 10-12; Prov. iii. 9, 10; Lev. xxv. 18-22.

"Now let us ask ourselves, Why should our contributions be less than those of Israel? Is the field for labour smaller than theirs, and the harvest for us to gather less than theirs? Compare Palestine with the world, and the Jews with the nations of the earth. If christians shall always give as they are now giving, can they ever fulfil the command of our Lord-'Go ye into all the world'? &c. If we should give as the Jews, or even more, will not God bless us as much or more ? Then let us freely give, for is not God faithful still to His promises ?"

So far the article of our young pastor. What an array of contributions, some fixed and some voluntary, to be drawn from God's people! Now it is worth our while to inquire what was the reason of all this. They had not the gospel to preach to Gentile nations; they had not to translate the Scriptures into scores of foreign tongues, and to multiply them by the million. They had no Tract work, no Home, no Foreign Missions. And yet they were called upon for contributions, as if they had no other business than to make contributions. Exactly so! God did mean, undoubtedly that they should make a business of it. Not that the heathen wanted it; but He, their God and Redeemer, wanted it given to Him, to prove, and try, and discipline them, and give Him a reason for blessing them still more. And so they had to make a business of it. And so must we. What other business has the church? What other business has a christian man than to make money and give to the Lord? I confess I do not know. Are God's promises of blessings taken back? Or will they come down ten-fold now, when there are so many more wants in the Lord's work ?

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