Grose, and to all who had in any way made the anniversary a success, which was carried unanimously.

YOUNG MEN'S MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT CLASS.

This was formed a few weeks since, when J. Cory was elected president; T. Pawley, vice-president; R. Knight, treasurer; and S. Thompson, secretary. The meetings are to be held fortnightly on Wednesday evenings. The first meeting was held on January 21st, which was principally occupied with an address by Mr. Cory, on "Self-Help." There was a good attendance, and the class promises to meet a long felt want.

We are thankful to state that the revival spirit is still in our midst, and souls have been recently converted.

J. C.

TOTTENHAM.

THE NEW MISSION AT SOUTH THIS is a rapidly growing suburb of North London. Within the last five or six years thousands of houses have been built, and occupied, and all the appearances indicate that the population in the locality will continue to increase. Between two and three years ago some families formerly connected with the Jubilee Chapel having come into the neighbourhood to reside, commenced to hold services. A room was taken at Stamford Hill, over a bakehouse. Here an encouraging number of persons regularly assembled for worship; the preaching of the Gospel was accompanied with Divine power, and several persons became converted. After a time baking was commenced on the premises below, which brought a swarm of crickets into the room, and these greatly disturbed the worshippers. The invaders, regardless of all order, would sing in their own fashion, while the people were engaged in prayer, or endeavouring to listen to the preacher; they also ran and flew about, causing amusement to some, and alarm to others. It soon became evident that to retain the congregation other premises must be obtained, consequently an adjoining house was taken, in which services have been regularly held and a Sunday School conducted for about a year and a half. As the result of appeals to Conference for direction and help, land has been purchased at South Tottenham-about half a mile from the room now occupied-on which to build a mission church and hall. The site is an excellent one, fronting the high road, and near the junction of other leading roads. Efforts were made for months to find a suitable plot of land at the smallest possible cost, and although the amount for the freehold is large-viz., £700-all things considered it is the cheapest site available. It is not too much to say that the position chosen and the work intended to be done meets with the heartiest approval of the people generally. The ministers of five influential churches in the neighbourhood have given their consent for their names to be printed heartily recommending the undertaking; the name of the Rev. Andrew Reed, B.A., of Hampstead, will likewise appear on the circular-the house of his brother, the late Sir Charles Reed, formerly stood almost on the spot which will be occupied by the new premises. Strenuous efforts will be made to raise funds while the buildings are in course of erection. Much prayer has been offered for guidance, and many persons have agreed to pray daily that the blessing of God may attend every stage of the work. Will the readers of the Bible Christian Magazine also frequently unite at the throne of grace in asking that great blessing may attend our endeavours, and will they do something towards answering prayer by sending subscriptions in aid of the building fund? No amount, however small, will be unacceptable. Two thousand donations averaging one shilling each would make up a substantial sum. Small amounts

from all parts of the country are doing wonders towards relieving the "Bitter Cry of Outcast London." All the churches are waking up to the great work of evangelizing the millions of this vast city, and we believe no greater service can be rendered to the cause of Christianity. Contributions should be sent to J. Honey, 31, Eastbourne Road, Stamford Hill, London, N.

WATERLOO ROAD CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOL.

THE forty-eighth anniversary services in connection with this school were held on Sunday and Monday, March 1st and 2nd. Sermons were preached on the Sunday by Rev. W. H. Tickell, pastor, and in the afternoon a choir of teachers and scholars rendered Root's Cantata, "The Choicest Gift."

On the following evening a large number of scholars and friends took tea, after which the annual meeting was held. J. Klench, Esq., presided, in the absence, through illness, of Silas Tucker, Esq. The report read by the secretary, Mr. J. W. Martin, was full of encouraging facts, the past year having been one of the most prosperous in the history of the school.

The statistics show 38 teachers and 348 scholars. Testimony was borne to the great regularity with which the teachers attend to their duties, and the deep interest which they take in all branches of their work. One hundred and twenty teachers and scholars are members of the International Bible Reading Union. The Young Christians' Band is not numerically strong, but a good work is being carried on in connection with it. Six scholars have joined the Church during the year. The average of senior scholars is much above the average of past years. Prominence is given to temperance principles. At the close of afternoon school (Temperance lesson Sunday) recently, thirty scholars signed the pledge. The Band of Hope is efficiently carried on. A boys' choir has been formed, and is found to work well. A new harmonium has been purchased at a cost of twenty pounds.

In the summer a flower service was held as usual, the flowers being afterwards distributed to the children in the wards of the Waterloo Road Hospital by a deputation of the scholars. £14 was contributed to the Bible Christian Missionary Society. In addition to this, collections were made in aid of the Continental Sunday School Union, Waterloo Road Hospital, Christmas breakfast for the poor, &c., &c.

The summer excursions and New Year's soirees took place as usual, the expenses of the latter being defrayed by the teachers.

Twelve scholars were sent into the country for three weeks, half the cost being borne by the school, the remainder by the Children's Fresh Air Mission. The "days of universal prayer" were observed by special meetings. The tea meetings

for teachers on the first Sunday in each month continue to be well supported. The visitation of absent scholars has been regularly kept up by the members of the visiting committee. This committee comprises about half-a-dozen teachers, whose services in this important respect are productive of much good. Cases of distress discovered during this visitation are assisted from the School Benevolent Fund. All scholars absent for two successive Sundays are visited, and the reason of such absence reported to the secretaries.

The school has been deprived of some of its best workers during the year. The loss of Mr. A. O. Hobbs, who had held the position of secretary for many years, was especially felt. A valuable testimonial was presented to him on the occasion of his marriage and removal. Happily, others have been brought in to fill the vacant places, so that there is no lack of efficient workers.

The report touched upon many other matters of interest, and was full of expressions of gratitude for the past and hopefulness as to the future.

Mr. S. Moore read the cash account, showing receipts £54; disbursements (including balance brought forward from previous year) 73. The deficiency is now being paid off by a special effort.

The Revs. Dr. Davies, W. Jeffery, T. G. Vanstone, J. C. Sweet, and W. J. Mills addressed the meeting, the interest of which was sustained to the close.

THE CAUSE IN VICTORIA.

(FROM A LETTEr from Br. OrcHARD TO THE Foreign SecretARY.) ON several of the stations we have had a blessed work; on a few, I fear, a little leakage; but on the whole victory is on our side. In this circuit (Sandhurst), Terricks, St. Armand, Lorquon, Ballarat, Castlemaine, Melbourne, Mount Moriac, and in several other circuits we have had blessed revivals. St. Armand is a place we have opened since District meeting, and we are hoping it will grow into a good circuit before long. We have employed four new agents since District meeting, viz.: Bro. Veale for St. Armand; Br. Hicks for Sandhurst (the third agent); Br. Plane for Numurkah (who takes the place of a hired local preacher resigned); and Miss Sleep, a young woman of good abilities, who is engaged in evangelistic work. I don't think our Church was ever so aggressive in Victoria as at present, and I am sure God has never so blessed our work as of late. What a pleasure and a joy to know that God is with us, helping us in our work, and making our poor feeble efforts a blessing to the world.

The Rev. J. Wakefield, of Canada, is here just now for the benefit of his health. He speaks much in favour of the Union there, and says it must take place here.

I have had a very lively time of it since I came to this Circuit, for, in addition to what the Canadians call since the Union "levelling up," we have been doing big things by way of building. We have built a school here large enough to accommodate 500 or 600 children, which has cost £375, and we have raised all the money except about £80. We have enlarged the California Gully Church and otherwise improved it, so that it is almost a new church, at a cost of £250, and I am hoping we shall not add more than £50 to the original debt. We have built a new church at St. Mungo, costing more than 200, and raised nearly one half of the money. We are now enlarging the parsonage here for the accommodation of my big family. In addition to this I have had to superintend the erection of a beautiful church at Mitiamo, in the Terricks Circuit. I can assure you this year has been one of the most busy of my Colonial experience. However, as I am now in the prime of life, I must not forget the important injunction

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do," etc. We are about to build at St. Armand and in some other places almost immediately. So you see we are going ahead. Since the receipt of your letter and Conference resolutions, we have held a committee meeting, and I am happy to inform you that we are satisfied with the grant the Conference has made us, and regret exceedingly that we are under the necessity to have any grant at all. Some of the brethren think if the Home Conference would make us a grant of, say £1,000, that we should not need any more. Possibly the District Meeting will pass a resolution on the matter. Br. Evans is better, and able to resume his work again. All the other brethren, so far as I know, are well; but Br. Hosken is rather feeble.

We are beginning to feel that the time has arrived when we should have a Conference, our District is become so very large. I am glad that you think as we do on this matter.

I admire your enterprise re China. Should you start a mission there you must expect it to be a costly affair. The language is difficult to learn, and the Chinese are the most stoical beings under the sun. However, we should never forget that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or THINK. The Salvation Army are pushing ahead with a vengeance. The movement almost makes us hold our breath, and to ask the question-What next? My impression is that "the Army" will hold its own in the great centres, but wil] have greater difficulties than ourselves to get on in the small places. However, as music, open-air services, and testimonies appear to take with the people nowa-days, I am endeavouring to meet the requirements in these respects. We cannot afford to allow others to empty our churches, nor to lighten our exchequer.

GOOD NEWS FROM MELBOURNE.

Ar a golden offering service held in the Gore-street Bible Christian Church, on Sunday, Jan. 4th, the noble sum of £100 was collected towards the reduction of the debt on the church property there. This, with £55 paid off the schoolroom and £50 off the parsonage, makes a total reduction of debt for the past year of £205. At Hotham the debt has been reduced £120, and steps are being taken towards the erection of a new church; whilst at Carlton, as the result of a very successful sale of gifts recently held, beside much earnest individual effort, the sum of over £200 is available for the purpose of enlarging the present building. A new and handsome church has been erected in the rising town of Foots-cray. Successful opening services were held. The congregations are steadily improving, and a well-attended Sunday-school has been formed. The necessary steps are also being taken towards the purchase of suitable sites in several of the more important suburbs with the intention of establishing churches there during the coming year. The coinmittee set apart for that purpose are meeting with every encouragement, and hope to be enabled to report still farther progress at no distant date. The ordinary receipts are also in a flourishing condition in each of the places, exceeding those of any former year in the history of the circuit.

A SUNDAY IN CARDIFF.

BARNABAS when he came as far as Antioch, "and saw the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all with full purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord."

Kindred were our feelings on Sunday, March 8th, while preaching missionary sermons in our chapel at Cardiff. There was a good gathering in the body of the chapel in the morning, and the galleries, with the exception of one or two of

the upper seats at the end were filled with school children and members of the adult classes.

The Rev. J. Stringer (Wesleyan) preached to a splendid gathering in the afternoon. We were surprised when he read the lesson, announced his text, and discoursed on the same lines we had prepared for the evening. However, we had other ammunition in store. At night the chapel was filled, we had a happy time, and the after-meeting we shall never forget. The hymn

"My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine,"

was sung with remarkable sweetness and power. We requested any one to stand and witness for Christ, only repeating the words,

66

My Gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou,

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now,"

and they testified to the grace of God by scores, and frequently two or three at a time.

It was never our pleasure to preach to larger congregations. We fervently pray that the two hundred or more recently added to the church may be faithful unto death.

Heavy as has been our outlay at Cardiff, and weighty as are the present liabilities, there is every prospect, under the skilful management of Br. Honey, accompanied by the blessing of God, that ere long Cardiff will be one of our largest centres of usefulness. Steps should be taken, as soon as possible, to provide increased class-rooms, and further accommodation for the Sunday-school.

W. B.

Chapels,

ASHTON, BREAGE CIRCUIT.-For more than a generation religious services have been conducted in the above village by the Bible Christians, and for many years past regular preaching services have been held. The want of suitable premises has been long felt. About six years since a site was secured on which stood an old dwelling; this was occupied for some time as a preaching place, but being much out of repair it was resolved, about two years ago, to pull it down and erect a small chapel. Our good brother, Mr. J. Champion, threw himself into the work with great enthusiasm. The small society rallied to his help, to the best of their ability, and many kind friends, far and near, rendered their willing and liberal aid.

Memorial stones were laid in November, 1883. The following ladies took part in this interesting ceremony :-Miss A. Roberts (Truro), Miss E. Eddy, Miss B. Champion, Miss M. Johns and Mrs. V. Daniel. Addresses were delivered by Bro. J. Tremelling, Mr. E. Roberts, of Truro, Mr. J. Champion and the writer.

A public tea was held in the Wesleyan Chapel, after which Bro. Tremelling occupied the pulpit, and to a crowded and interested audience, preached an able and eloquent sermon. The services were successful, and the monetary result beyond expectations.

The opening of the chapel took place, May 21st, 1884, when Bro. Tremelling paid us another visit, and preached in the afternoon in the new building. A public tea was served in the United Methodist Chapel. A public meeting followed, Mr. W. Polkinghorne in the chair. The meeting was addressed by the following brethren :-J. Tremelling, J. Seldon, D. Murley, J. B. Nicholas and J. Champion.