noon being Jesus washing the Disciples' following from The Colchester Mercury feet; in the evening an explanation of December 12th :— of what is meant in the New Testament "On Thursday, the 3rd inst., the Comby Salvation being obtained by faith mittee of the New Jerusalem Church in Christ, and how this faith justifies gave a tea party in honour of the memwithout the deeds of the law. Both bers of the choir. After tea a large services were well attended, especially number of friends assembled, and the the one in the evening; many people chair was taken by Mr. J. Deans, the who had come a distance to see their minister, who addressed the friends on friends on the occasion, and many the obligations of the congregation to belonging to other churches who were at the Social Meeting, and were invited to attend on the Sunday, being present.'

the choir, expressing a hope that the occasion on which they were assembled might stimulate the choir to a continuance of the diligence and talent they BIRMINGHAM-Summer Lane. -The had manifested for so long a period. Committee and Trustees have now re- Mrs. J. Aldous favoured the meeting ceived tenders for the erection of their with the song 'All together again; new church and schools. But, notwith- after which the Chairman proceeded to standing every possible economy in the present, on behalf of the congregation, plans consistent with propriety, the testimonials in recognition of the services lowest tender is a thousand pounds more of the organist and his deputy. The than the Society intended to spend. As gift to the organist consisted of a timesoon, however, as it was known amongst piece, in gilt and marble, bearing the the friends that their intended sub- inscription-Presented to Mr. A. scriptions must at any sacrifice be Went, in recognition of his services as doubled or trebled in amount, the most organist of the New Jerusalem Church, generous response was immediately Brightlingsea, Dec. 1874.' In making made. The Committee and Trustees the presentation, Mr. Deans highly were cheered by subscriptions such as eulogized the devotion of the organist could not have been anticipated. Three to his duties, and, on behalf of the subof £300 each, and nine of £100 each scribers, begged Mr. Went to accept it were without delay offered, with a view as a small but freely given expression to warrant the Executive of the Society of gratitude and respect. Mr. Went in entering into a contract to build. feelingly acknowledged the presentation. The total amount, in addition to the Mr. Deans then presented an elegant above sums that may be probably raised marmalade stand to Mrs. Wm. Martin in the congregation, cannot be above some for her kind services in the absence of £300-thus making a possible sum of the organist, and the trouble she had £2100 from themselves. But as £3000 taken in training the children. Mr. will be wanted, besides what will be Wm. Bragg responded on behalf of his received from the sale of the present daughter. The remainder of the evenbuildings, etc., and as it is the ardent ing was pleasantly spent in a social desire and hope of the Society to avoid manner. for the future the crippling influences of a debt, and to open their church free of DERBY.-The Consecration Services all incumbrance, the Committee and in connexion with the New Church Trustees would feel grateful for any help here took place on the 13th December from those wealthier members of the last; the Rev. John Hyde of ManchesChurch who are able to appreciate and ter, and the Rev. Edward Madeley of second the efforts which this Society has Birmingham, conducted the services, made to help itself. If any such, re- which were well attended, especially in joicing to hear of the firmer establish- the evening, when every available space ment and extension of the external was filled. Mr. Hyde took his text in Church, should be willing to aid, a the morning from Isaiah ix. 13, communication to Mr. John Bragg, Hamstead Mount, Handsworth, Birmingham, or to Mr. Thomas Willson, Villa Street, Bonningham, will be thankfully acknowledged.

Beautifying the sanctuary," and in the evening from Luke xv. 4-7, " Seeking the lost sheep; and Mr. Madeley in the afternoon from Revelation xxi. 23-25, "A Brief View of the Principal Doctrines of the New JerusaBRIGHTLINGSEA. We extract the lem." Tea was ready in the school

Him who is the Giver of all good.-
FRED. WARD, Secretary.

room after the afternoon service for friends who have aided us, and I trust strangers and friends from a distance, we are and shall be thankful to the and there was a general expression of Lord for all His mercies, and shall show satisfaction. The collections amounted our gratitude in more earnest work for to £67, which was further augmented by the proceeds of a collection after a lecture on Tuesday evening by Mr. Hyde In addition to this communication on "Science and Religion," a review of from the Secretary, we have received a Professor Tyndall's speech at Belfast. letter from a friend who was present at On Monday evening there was a tea and the close of these opening services, and public meeting in the school-room, who writes respecting the changes presided over by the Mayor of Derby that have been effected :-"The im(George Holme, Esq.), which was so provement in the building is really numerously attended as to tax the Com- marvellous, presenting no appearance of mittee's ability to find room, and we fear an old edifice altered, but looking like our friends who arrived late would find an altogether new structure, comprising themselves ill-convenienced. Among a very pretty and well-arranged church, those present were friends from Notting- with one of the best school-rooms adham and Melbourne, besides the follow- joining in the town. Had they cleared ing, many of whom took part in the the ground and built de novo, I do not meeting, viz.: the Mayor, Rev. John think they could have found a more Hyde, President of Conference; Rev. E. judicious or handsome plan at the cost." Madeley; Rev. C. H. Wilkins, Nottingham; Rev. T. K. Payten, Melbourne ; OPENING OF THE NEW SCHOOLRev. T. Dobson (Unitarian), Rev. J. ROOMS, KERSLEY.-On Thursday evenMerwood (Congregational), Mr Ashby ing, January 14th, the large and hand(the minister of the church), and others. some Day and Sunday-schools which have The evening was spent in addresses, been erected in Church Street, Kersley, music and singing, with a short interval were opened by a tea and public meetfor conversation and congratulations; ing. The erection of the schools are a but in consequence of the number credit to the congregation and an ornapresent, there was no room to promen- ment to the district. The premises are ade; nevertheless a very pleasant and very lofty and substantially built of agreeable evening was spent. The brick. Upon the ground floor are three services were continued on the following lavatories, a small committee room or Sabbath, December 20th, by the Rev. Dr. Bayley of London, who preached two excellent sermons, and also attended a tea-meeting in the school-room on the Monday evening, and delivered a lecture on Tuesday evening. The collections on Sunday amounted to £21. We were very pleased to have the Doctor with us on this occasion, and it was remarked on all sides we had never heard Dr. Bayley in happier mood. On Sunday the 27th our esteemed friend and late minister, Rev. John Presland of London, brought the opening services to a conclusion by two very instructive discourses, followed by the collection of £16, which was increased the next day, at the tea-meeting and service of song, by the school teachers and children. The total result of the opening services was £120, which, considering the extremely cold weather and some other unfavourable circumstances, we must consider highly satisfactory. The accounts received are paid, except one balance; and we have £200 yet to raise. We thank all and every one of our

vestry, an infants' school-room, and a very spacious room, capable of accommodating a large number of scholars. Above is a large lecture hall, whilst upon the basement storey is the heating apparatus. All the rooms, especially the principal school-room, are well fitted with all the necessary requirements upon the most improved principles, and nothing seems to have been lost sight of which would add to the comfort and convenience of those for whom the premises have been specially designed. Every room is well lighted with chandeliers and gas pendants, whilst during the day-time ample light is obtained by large and neatly-designed windows. There are separate and large playgrounds for boys and girls. Altogether, the premises will comfortably accommodate 700 scholars. They are well ventilated, and the acoustic properties of the rooms, especially the large one, have proved to be all that could be desired. premises have cost about £3000.

The

About 400 persons sat down to the tea

on Thursday evening, and that number was increased to 700 at the public meeting held afterwards. After the repast the chair was occupied by W. Hughes, Esq., a member of the Manchester School Board, and he was supported upon the platform by the Revs. P. Ramage, H. Burton, Wesleyan minister; W. Hewgill, Congregational minister; W. Westall, J. Hyde, and other gentlemen.

The proceedings were opened by the choir singing a hymn, and after the Rev. P. Ramage had offered up the Lord's Prayer, the Chairman congratulated the inhabitants of Kersley upon the erection of what he termed a noble educational palace. He was surprised to find in a place which was considered to be so close to the Moors such an active and earnest spirit manifested in the cause of education, and hoped that the interest in it would continue. After some further remarks, he stated that there were some very erroneous notions with regard to School Boards. It was generally supposed that a School Board was of no use unless the village or town was deficient in school accommodation. That was a great error. While they had a fine building, with good teachers, the next element was scholars. Unless they had a School Board they could not exercise compulsory powers. The great use of School Boards was to fill schools, and he trusted that by and by the inhabitants of Farnworth and Kersley would see the necessity of instituting a School Board for the district.

schools, and stated that what he should like to see in this country was a network of graded schools from the lowest primary schools up to the universities. He earnestly trusted that the work of education would be pushed on in that district and throughout the country.

After a short address from Mr. Smith of Bolton, the Rev. H. Burton remarked that he endeavoured to appreciate goodness wherever it was to be found, and to value worth in whatever body it existed. He related his experience of the American school system, and stated that after an experience of seven years in America he could speak of it in praiseworthy terms from his own knowledge.

The Rev. W. Westall made a few congratulatory remarks, after which votes of thanks were accorded to the ladies who had presided at the trays, and also to the Chairman.

The opening services were continued over the following Sunday, when two sermons were preached in the Church by the Rev. R. Storry, and a children's service held in the new school-room in the afternoon. The services in the Church were well attended and enlivened by an appropriate selection of hymns and spiritual songs, which were beautifully rendered by an efficient choir and heartily joined in by the large congregation. The service in the afternoon was somewhat novel, but singularly interesting. It consisted of a selection of popular and appropriate hymns, which the children of the Sunday-school had been taught to sing. These were interspersed by prayer, the reading of the The Rev. W. Hewgill, in the course Word, and a pleasing and suitable of an excellent address, remarked in address by the minister, the Rev. P. reference to the statement of the Chair- Ramage. A striking and interesting man with regard to School Boards, that portion of the proceedings was the first Farnworth was becoming full of ignorant hymn, "Jesus is my Shepherd," which people, because there was no School was sung by the children as a proBoard to compel the attendance of cessional hymn during the time they scholars at the schools, and many per- were marching to their places in the sons came from Bolton to reside at new school-room. The procession was Farnworth, where they would be out of conducted in good order, and the singing the reach of the Bolton School Board. of the children, led by the choir, was very He referred to the superior education of effective. Altogether the service was of children in Switzerland, which he knew the most cheerful kind, and we doubt from his own experience was much not will be long remembered by the better than children of this country. little people who took part in it and by He was pleased to be upon that platform the members of the congregation who that night, and congratulated his were present. All the services seemed friends at Kersley upon the erection to yield pleasure and we trust profit to of that noble pile of buildings.

The Rev. John Hyde congratulated those present upon the erection of those

those who were present. The collections, an important feature in services of this kind, were large, amounting to £190.