trust that, this year, she will be second to none in labours of love for our community and in world-wide sympathy. J. K. JACKSON.

TEA-MEETING AND CONCERT. BIRMINGHAM.

Ox Monday evening a public teameeting and concert were held in our chapel, Heath Street, Birmingham, when about 200 persons were present. The choir sang several sacred pieces excellently, and brief but forcible addresses were given by the Revs. W. Pacey (of Dudley), T. Smith, A. Hilditch, Messrs. J. Lawson, A. Taylor, E. Antrobus, and the Rev. E. Gratton (Home Missionary for Ladywood). The object of the meeting was to raise money to pay for a superior harmonium recently put into the chapel. The sum required was £10, and the proceeds of the entertainment realized that amount.

This branch of the Ladywood Mission Station is, by the blessing of God, giving pleasing evidence of increasing life and energy. Nov. 15th, 1865.

E. GRATTON.

WILLENHALL.

OUR good friends at Willenhall have long been desirous of making their chapel more commodious and comfortable. As a first step towards this object they held a bazaar in June last, for the sale of fancy and useful articles. Though our society in this town is neither strong nor wealthy, the supply of goods was most creditable and attractive. The stalls were decorated and arranged with very superior taste, and the result of the sales was highly satisfactory. The proceedings were enlivened, from time to time, by piano music, excellently rendered by Master Thomas; and our good friends, the Messrs. Whitehouse, of Bridgtown, also gave a musical entertainment.

The gross sums taken at the stalls, &c., were as follows:-Mrs. Dugmore, Mrs. Hitch, and Mrs. Edwards, £39 163. 7d.; Mrs. Stringer, Mrs. Risbrooke, and Miss Banks, £25; Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Vickers, Mrs. Johns, and Mrs. Bagnal, £20 11s. 4d.; Miss Clara Horton,

12; Sewing Meeting, £11 1s. 5d.; Refreshment Stall, £3 14s. 10d.; Battery, &c., 6s. 5d.; Mr. Harrison's Lecture, 15s. 8d.; Mr. Dace's Dona

tion, 16s.; Admission to the Bazaar, £7. Total, £121 2s. 3d. T. R.

MISSION SERVICES.

MOSSLEY.

ON Lord's day, November 26th, two sermons were preached in our chapel at Mossley, on behalf of our Missions, by the Rev. T. D. Crothers, of Halifax; and the Annual Missionary Meeting was held on the Tuesday evening following The chair was occupied by Jerry Andrew, Esq., of Prospect House. The report was read by the secretary, Mr. James Shaw, and the following gentlemen took part in the proceedings:-Revs. T. D. Crothers (deputation), E. Minton (Congregational), J. Colwell (Wesleyan), J. W. Williams, and J. Le Huray; Messrs. H. Atherton, A. H. Lawlor, J. Broadbent, Jno. Shaw, S. Holt, R. S. Buckley, and J. Taylor. The collections were the same as last year. JAMES SHAW.

ARMLEY.

LEEDS FIRST CIRCUIT.

SOME account was given, in the Magazine for August, 1864, of an effort begun with the view of clearing off our chapel debt, and building a new school at Armley, Leeds Circuit. We have pleasure in reporting the gratifying progress of that effort, especially as it regards the opening of the new school then projected.

The foundation-stone was laid last Easter by Mr. Alderman Blackburn, of the Leeds Second Circuit; and the building being at length completed, the opening services were held on Sabbaths, the 19th and 26th of November. On the former day, the Rev. W. Wilshaw, of Dewsbury, occupied our pulpit in the morning, delivering a faithful and stirring discourse; and in the evening a large congregation listened with delighted and breathless attention to an admirable sermon from Dr. Stacey. On the 26th we were favoured with a pointed discourse, in the morning, from the Rev. John Mann, of the Methodist Free Church, Leeds; and in the evening the chapel was crowded, while our old and estimable friend, the Rev. C. J. Donald, delivered, with much of his wonted fire, a solemn appeal on "The Eleventh Hour." The collections on these occasions amounted to £3911s. 4d.

Ou the Monday following the first of these Sabbaths, a bazaar was opened in the new school-room, where was displayed for sale an extensive collection

of articles, useful and ornamental, made or supplied by the ladies of the congregation and their friends. These were set out on stalls, under the superintendence of the following ladies :-Mrs. Guy (treasurer), Mrs. Anderson, Miss Coultas, and Miss Watkin; Mrs. Thornton (secretary), Miss Anderson, and Miss Hepper; Mrs. D. Wainman and Miss Wainman; Mrs. Fawcett, Mrs. M. Holdsworth, and Miss Peek. Misses Stead, Walker, Whitelock, Anderson, and Crummack, presided at the juvenile stall; and there were stalls of confectionery, &c., superintended by Misses Wainwright and Smith, and by Mesdms. Spence and J. Wainman. Other expedients for helping the good cause were also in operation, suggested by the ingenuity of friends. Messrs. Anderson and Jackson contributed their help by the exhibition of automaton figures and dissolving views. Another young friend applied the powers of electricity in a very shocking

manner.

On the first and second days of sale, an excellent tea was provided in the lecture-room by our friends, Mrs. Briggs and Mrs. W. Oates, the entire proceeds of which were handed over to the treasurer. And as the result of these combined expedients, we have to record the sum of above £160, realized by the bazaar, in favour of the objects contemplated.

On the Monday after the second opening Sabbath, a public tea-meeting was held in the school-room, and by adjournment in the chapel, presided over (in the absence of Mr. Pilling, of Bolton, who was unable to attend) by our earnest and warmhearted friend, Mr. Councillor Addyman, of Armley. The meeting was addressed by the Revs. J. Hudston, C. Hibbert, C. J. Donald, and W. J. Wallis, and by several friends from Leeds and Armley. Mr. Donald's address will be long remembered for its point and pith, and for the striking style of its delivery, its effect being such, indeed, as almost to make young men envy the power of the "old man eloquent." The meeting was numerously attended, and yielded a profit of about eight guineas to the fund.

The whole amount realized by the opening is therefore about £208-a result that is felt to be gratifying by those who have laboured for it.

An appropriate financial statement of the effort from its commencement

is as follows:-Subscriptions promised, £475; net proceeds of first bazaar, £167 14s.; from various sources, £53; net proceeds of late bazaar and opening services, £200. Total, £895 14s.

Of this amount, nearly £250 will be available towards the liquidation of the chapel debt, which, at the commencement, was about £600. Another effort or two as vigorous and successful as the past have been, will succeed in clearing off the whole; and then our friends will be able to thank God, and congratulate each other upon the attainment of the end first contemplated.

The Armley friends are much indebted to friends in Leeds for the generous help they have rendered during the opening; also to friends in other parts of the Connexion, whose contributions to the bazaar have materially promoted the good work. It is also right that, personally, I should mention the strenuous efforts of the teachers belonging to our Sabbathschool, who have put their shoulders to the wheel in manful style. Some poetic friend contributed a motto, which appeared among the decorations of the bazaar, to this effect

"For the new school cause let us work heart and hand,

And display our strength as a Christian band.'

It is only just to say that, in many ways, the spirit of this motto has been exemplified. As to the ladies of the bazaar committee, they are worthy of all praise. Throughout the movement

many daughters have done virtuously ;" and if any one among them has excelled the rest, it is, doubtless, some lady to whose modest spirit a specific mention of her name would be distasteful. So let the acknowledgment go forth of each alike-" She hath done what she could."

The new school premises consist of a large and beautiful school-room, lit in the evening by a sunlight from the centre of a vaulted ceiling; a lectureroom, which can be divided in two by a movable partition; and two other vestries, with conveniences annexed. The cost of erection is about £650, and the architect is our worthy friend, Mr. Fawcett, of Armley.

With this addition to our accommodation, it is to be hoped that such a measure of prosperity will be realized in the Sabbath-school as, under pre

viously-existing inconveniences, could scarcely be looked for.

con

A gratifying circumstance nected with the opening services was the presence of three penitents at the communion-rail on the second Sabbath evening after Mr. Donald's sermon. May these drops prelude a gracious

shower! Arise, O Lord, and have mercy upon Zion: let the time to favour her, yea, the set time, be come; for thy servants do indeed "take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof." J. C.

Armley, December 18, 1865.

MARY WILCOX.

OUR dear departed sister was born at Silverdale, September 11th, 1841. Hers was the inestimable advantage of having Christian parents, who, both by precept and example, taught her the path of life. At a very early age she was taken to the Sabbath-school, and to the various means of grace, where her mind became impressed with the importance of a religious life.

For

a season, however, those tendencies, which are common to all, prevailed against the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit. Her decision for God is thus described by her father:"Being naturally of a lively disposi tion, she was very fond of worldly associates and pleasures. She also formed a habit of speaking untruly, and was at times undutiful and disobedient to her parents. On one occasion, after receiving a severe reprimand, we kneeled down together with the other members of the family, and after I had engaged in prayer to God, especially on her behalf, she stated her Conviction that God, for Christ's sake, had pardoned all her sins." The immediate result of this was that she at once began to attend the valued means of grace-the "class meeting," and for a time ran well in the way of duty. But in a while her former habits acquired the ascendancy, and she again became entangled with the yoke of spiritual bondage. In this state she continued about two years, when, in the providence of God, she became again awakened under the ministry of that devoted servant of the Lord, the late Rev. Andrew Lynn. From the period of her restoration to the Divine favour, until interrupted by protracted affliction, she evinced an earnest desire to do good in her day, by the distribution of religious tracts,

and by frequently visiting such as were unconcerned about spiritual things.

Our sister's day, however, was destined to be short indeed, in which she enjoyed the privilege to labour in the vineyard of the Lord. Symptoms of physical debility, which, in early life, manifested their presence, began to assume a more threatening aspect, which, in the eyes of anxious friends, clearly foreshadowed the certain result. But although it was not permitted to her to live a long and useful life, yet her friends have the unspeakable gratification of knowing that in her case "To die was gain," and "being absent from the body, she is present with the Lord."

Probably, but few youthful Christians have, in time of severe affliction, and in the article of death, given stronger evidence of the all-sufficiency of true religion. To record all here that has been preserved as related by her at such seasons, would extend this memoir to undue proportions. For the space of two years and upwards, in great weakness and much suffering, she remained in the furnace of affliction; nevertheless, contented and happy to know "That our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." The language of praise was continually on her lips. Like David of old, she called upon her soul, and all within her, "to bless and to praise the name of the Lord." "Religion," said she, 66 was sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. Blessed be God for the feelings I now enjoy, and the sweet consolations received from Christ; and though weighed down with bodily pain, he enables me to look above all, and to stay my mind upon him; assured that he will bring me off more than conqueror. I feel

that as I get nearer to my Father's house, religion becomes more precious than ever; and if I die to-night, I have a glorious hope of a blessed immortality." On one occasion she expressed a desire to be clothed in white, as the saints in heaven were all so arrayed whither she was going. Her friends complied with her request, after which they sang that sublime hymn

"What are those arrayed in white," &c. Shortly afterwards she began to get worse, and thought that her end was at hand, when she said

"His chariot will not long delay;

I hear the rumbling wheels, and pray,
Triumphant Lord, appear.'

For awhile she appeared to be struggling with the last enemy, and very emphatically said, "Oh, death, I will be thy plague." For about half an hour her spirit appeared to be fluttering, like a captive bird, to be set at liberty; and she would almost bound from her bed, as though she would at once fly away and be at rest. She was heard to say, "Come, my Jesus; do come;" and on reviving a little, was sorely disappointed that she had not gone to heaven; for she had been up to the very gates. For several nights these struggles of nature were renewed, and so painful were they that she besought her friends who were present to pray for her, that she might endure with patience the will of the Lord. After prayer she said, "Oh, bless him for giving me the fullest assurance of seeing the King in his beauty, and the land which to me is not afar off. I feel that Christ can make a dying bed feel soft as downy pillows are." In her affliction her soul appears to have ripened fast in its meetness for the heavenly country. Hence, her language became more and more exultant as the end approached. "Oh, bless him for the floods of joy that break in upon my soul. It gives me great pleasure to know that if I suffer with him, I shall also reign with him, where pain and suffering are known no more.' Being asked if Jesus was precious to her, she replied, "Oh, yes; I am lying in the arms of Jesus. To the cross I now do cling, and have now full reliance on Christ's atonement, and experience that ecstatic joy that I could not feel before. I feel that I am an heir of heaven, and through his grace I shall enjoy that rest that remains for his people. Oh, the preciousness of

Jesus! It is better felt than expressed. My soul overflows with his love. Nearer the grave, nearer heaven and its blessed enjoyments." With these and with many similar expressions, she gave utterance to her strong faith and experience of the love of her blessed Redeemer.

A short time prior to her decease, the great adversary appears to have made a final effort to shake her confidence in her Saviour. Her faith suffered a temporary eclipse, but though darkness endures for the night, joy cometh in the morning." In her distress, she sent for a good brother, Mr. Rowley, to pray with her. Mr. Rowley says, "We prayed and wrestled, and wrestled and prayed, until at length the tempter fled, and Christ again manifested himself to her, and she could exclaim, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." A short time after this there occurred what to some may appear simply a mental illusion. Whether it so or not the writer cannot undertake to say; though inclined to regard the revelation as fact, and quite in consonance with the records of religious experience.

were

While alone in her chamber, she was favoured with a special manifestation of the presence and love of God. The veil was for a short season withdrawn, and she distinctly saw one of those bright ministering spirits which are sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation. She threw out her arms towards it, exclaiming, "Come, come!" supposing it was come to convey her to the skies. Then with all her strength she called her mother to come and see, but before she arrived the vision closed. Her father and friend Rowley, hearing her call, went into her room, when she told them she had seen something that she could not fully describea being that filled the room with light, having expanded wings, and shining more gloriously than the noonday sun. It had filled her to overflowing with the love of God.

And says this friend, Never shall I forget the brightness of her countenance at that time, as she cried out,

Oh, bless him! Oh, bless him! Oh, father, oh, mother, I cannot tell you how happy I am." Tears of joy coursed

down her cheeks as she kept praising and blessing the Lord. This lasted some time, when at length she asked us to pray; and surely if ever the Lord manifested himself to two or three of his children, it was so at that time, for the whole room appeared to be full of the Divine presence. Truly

"The chamber where the Christian meets his fate,

Is privileged above the common walks of virtuous life,

Quite on the verge of heaven."

Our sister lingered but a brief season beyond this on the shores of Jordangradually sinking, but "waiting all the days of her appointed time, until her change came.' A day or two before she departed, her father was saying to her that it was possible to be deceived even on a dying bed. But said she, "Father, I am not deceived. The gates are wide open, and I see a great company; and Jesus, that precious Saviour, who has bought me with his blood, is here; and my grandfather is here, and Jesus will say, Come in, thou weary traveller and heir of glory.' She then shouted, "Victory, victory, victory!" and, clasping her hands, said,

"Oh, what are all my sufferings here,

If, Lord, thou count me meet
With that enraptured host to appear,
And worship at thy feet!"

On the day of her death, she still spoke of the preciousness of Jesus. It was Jesus first, and Jesus last. By day and by night he was her joy, and

her
song. Gradually this earth and
all its associations receded from view.
Eternity, with its marvellous wonders
and its unspeakable blessedness, burst
upon her astonished sight, and ere
anxious friends could say, "She's dead,"
angels sung, “A child is born." "She
opened her eyes and beheld the King
in his beauty," and is now "for ever in
the presence of the Lord." Thus died
our dear sister in the twenty-third year
HUGH BOUrne.

of her age.
Newcastle, Staffordshire.

MRS. T. WHITTAKER, OF OTLEY, BRADFORD CIRCUIT. THE amiable and excellent woman who forms the subject of the present memoir was the daughter of Mr. George Pigott, of Otley, and the beloved wife of Mr. Timothy Whittaker. She was born September 2nd, 1833, and died

February 14th, 1865, aged thirty-one years.

Having had the advantages of a religious training, she early in life became impressed with the importance of Divine things, and when about seventeen years of age, fully yielded herself to Christ, under the ministry of Messrs. Robertson and Wray, who were then conducting special religious services in the Wesleyan chapel, Otley.

In the year 1856 she was united in marriage to our dear brother, T. Whittaker, a leader and local preacher in connection with our society at Otley. She made herself useful in the Sabbath-school, and other spheres of Christian labour; and to the time of her death her career was steady and consistent. The spiritual well-being of herself, her husband, and family, was to her a source of deep solicitude. The reading of God's holy Word, private prayer, attention to both public and social means of grace, were felt by her to be not only a duty but a delight. Religion was to our dear sister everything. It threw a halo of calmness and serenity around her everyday life, and made her beloved by all who knew her. She was a good mother and an affectionate wife, and her removal hence to the Church triumphant is felt to be a severe loss, not only to her beloved husband and four very young children, but to our church at Otley.

She was afflicted several months, but often said, "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. The Lord will preserve my children. I have given all up." On February 12th, which was her last Sabbath on earth, she had a severe conflict with Satan; but after the struggle was over, she looked round upon her weeping friends, with a holy joy resting upon her countenance. "Oh!" she said, "I love you I love you all, but I love my Jesus better. Oh, precious Jesus! he is precious to my soul." She continued in this happy frame of mind the whole of the day. Next morning, as her husband approached her bedside, a little before six o'clock, and inquired how she felt, she said, "Happy, happy, happy! I shall soon have done with earth now; my cough has left me. I am resting on Jesus. He is with me. He will be with me right through the valley." She then sang the verse

"Then let our songs abound,

And every tear be dried.