IRISH CHRONICLE.

JUNE, 1864.

ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE BAPTIST IRISH SOCIETY.

THE GENERAL MEETING OF MEMBERS was held in the Library of the Mission House, on Friday, April 22nd; THOMAS PEWTRESS, Esq., the Treasurer, presided. Prayer was offered by the Rev. C. W. SKEMP, of Eyethorne.

The Minutes of the Committee Meetings during the year were read.

The Report of the Committee was laid before the Meeting, and on the motion of the Rev. B. EVANS, D.D., seconded by the Rev. J. WEBB, of Ipswich, was ordered to be printed.

The Treasurer's Balance Sheet was also presented, showing a balance in favour of the Society of £50 2s. 2d.

It was proposed by the Rev. F. TRESTRAIL, seconded by Rev. J. Sтock, and resolved:

That the cordial thanks of this Meeting be presented to THOMAS PEWTRESS, Esq., the Treasurer of the Baptist Irish Society, and that he be earnestly requested to continue in office for the year ensuing.

It was also resolved, on the motion of the Rev. B. EVANS, D.D., seconded by the Rev. A. BURNETT:

That the cordial thanks of this Meeting be presented to the Secretary, the Rev. C. J. MIDDLEDITCH, for his efficient services during the past year, and that he be earnestly requested to continue in office for the year ensuing.

On the motion of the Rev. F. TRESTRAIL, seconded by the Rev. E. EDWARDS, of Chard, the following gentlemen were appointed as the Committee for the year ensuing, viz.:

It was proposed by the Rev. C. J. MIDDLEDITCH, and seconded by the Rev. E. DENNETT:

That the thanks of the Society be presented to Mr. A. B. GOODALL and Mr. C. BAINES for their services as Auditors of the Society's accounts, and that they be respectfully requested to act for the year ensuing.

It was proposed by WILLIAM HEATON, Esq., seconded by the Rev. W. WALTERS of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and resolved :

That, in the opinion of this meeting, a union between the Baptist Irish Society and the Baptist Home Missionary Society is both practicable and desirable, and that the present is an appropriate time for effecting such a union; and that it be an instruction to the Committee this day appointed to take such measures as may be adapted to promote such a union on the most desirable basis, and to call a special General Meeting of this Society for a decision of the question on the earliest possible day.

It was proposed by Rev. W. WALTERS, seconded by Rev. P. GRIFFITHS, of Biggleswade, and resolved:

That, in the opinion of this Meeting, the Jubilee of the Baptist Irish Society ought to be made the occasion of widely-extended effort to bring the claims of the Mission before the Christian Public, in order to diffuse information respecting its operations, to secure a larger amount of pecuniary support, and to awaken a more general spirit of prayer in behalf of the Irish people. That the proposal of the late Committee to improve the present favourable opportunity for this purpose has the cordial approval of the Meeting, and is earnestly commended to the Churches of Great Britain and Ireland. That the threefold object of such augmented income-viz., the increase of stations, the erection of chapels, and the education in Ireland of young men for the Christian Ministry, would be an appropriate mode by which to commemorate the Jubilee of the Society; and therefore, that the Committee for the ensuing year be requested to direct their earnest attention to the subject, in order that the proposal may be carried into execution with the utmost vigour and efficiency.

It was proposed by the Rev. F. TRESTRAIL, seconded by A. T. BOWSER, Esq., and resolved ::

That, in the opinion of this Meeting, the utmost effort should be made to render the Churches in Ireland self-supporting, or as nearly so as their circumstances will allow; and that it be an instruction to the Committee to direct their serious attention to this subject, especially with regard to the Church at Belfast.

A PUBLIC MEETING to commemorate the JUBILEE OF THE SOCIETY was held in Upton Chapel on Wednesday evening, April 20th. The Rev. C. H. SPURGEON presided. After prayer by Rev. B. C. ETHERIDGE, of Ramsgate, the following Resolutions were adopted :

Proposed by the Rev. STEWART GRAY, of Windsor, and seconded by the Rev. CHARLES STOVEL:

I. That the REVIEW of the Fifty years' history of the Baptist Irish Society calls for joyful acknowledgment of the good which has, by its agency, been effected in a country where the cause of spiritual religion has to contend with

great difficulties; and that that success must be devoutly ascribed to the omnipotence of Divine Grace.

Proposed by Rev. JOHN STOCK, of Devonport, seconded by Rev. G. D. EVANS, of Upton Chapel, and supported by Rev. H. S. BROWN, of Liverpool:

II. That THE PRESENT STATE of the Irish Mission affords much encouragement to continued and enlarged operations; that the favourable opportunities now presented for increased effort ought to be at once most vigorously improved; that it is of the utmost importance that means should be provided for the education in Ireland of devoted and qualified young men for the Christian Ministry; and that the commencement of such an order of effort would be an appropriate method by which to commemorate the JUBILEE of the Baptist Irish Society.

ON FRIDAY evening, April 22nd, a Service was also held in Kingsgate Chapel, in commemoration of the Jubilee. The Rev. P. GRIFFITHS, of Biggleswade, read the Scriptures and offered prayer. The Rev. THOMAS FOX NEWMAN, of Shortwood, preached an appropriate and very impressive sermon from Proverbs xxix. 18: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."

THE ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING of the Society was held in Bloomsbury Chapel on Tuesday evening, April 26th.

In the absence of Sir S. MORTON PETO, Bart., M.P., HENRY KELSALL, Esq., of Rochdale, presided.

The devotional services were conducted by the Rev. J. B. PIKE, of Lewes, and the Rev. J. PRICE, of Montacute.

The Chairman then addressed the Meeting, after which the Secretary gave à brief statement of the operations of the Society during the last year.

On the motion of the Rev. JOHN ALDIS, of Reading, seconded by S. R. PATTISON, Esq., of London, the following sentiment was adopted-viz. :— IRELAND. Its need of earnest effort for the spread of Evangelical truth and the enforcement of the spiritual nature of true religion.

The Rev. W. TARBOTTON, Secretary of the Irish Evangelical Society then submitted the following sentiment, which was also adopted, viz.:

THE BAPTIST IRISH SOCIETY.-The success already enjoyed a reason for continued and greatly augmented effort.

The following resolution was proposed by the Rev. J. P. MURSELL, of Leicester, seconded by the Hon. and Rev. BAPTIST W. NOEL, M.A., and carried unanimously:

That, in the opinion of this Meeting, it is of the utmost importance that agencies should be provided in Ireland itself for the permanent support of the Gospel; that the efforts of the Committee to establish self-sustaining churches in cities and large towns, and the proposal to initiate, in the Jubilee year of the Society, measures for the education, in Ireland, of young men for the Christian Ministry, are worthy of the most hearty and liberal support of the Christian public of Great Britain.

On the motion of the Rev. WILLIAM BROCK, seconded by the Rev. GEORGE GOULD, of Norwich, the thanks of the meeting were presented to the Chairman

for the kindness and efficiency with which he had conducted the proceedings of the Meeting, after which the Rev. W. Brock pronounced the benediction.

A liberal collection was made in behalf of the Society.

CLOSKELT, Co. DOWN.

The attention of Christian friends is very earnestly directed to the following appeal from our devoted brother Mr. ECCLES:

The case will be remembered by many as that of a congregation which has been gathered in "the REVIVAL BARN." The ground for the new chapel was generously given by one of the congregation, and many of the people have themselves, literally, had " a mind to work" at the new erection. Hence the smallness of the sum required. The Secretary will gladly receive contributions in behalf of this interesting and important cause.

DEAR BRETHREN,

To the Friends of the Gospel in Ireland.

Let me earnestly entreat your prompt assistance in paying off £150 for timber and other materials, employed in the erection of the new Baptist Chapel, Closkelt, Co. Down, and for most of which I was under the necessity of giving my personal guarantee. Payment is now pressingly sought. Every effort has been made in the neighbourhood, yet this heavy and discouraging debt still remains. Rev. C. J. Middleditch (Baptist Mission House) has kindly consented to take charge of all contributions.

The interesting circumstances connected with the erection of this chapel are too familiar to the readers of the" Chronicle" to require any further notice here. It is among the most interesting fruits of the Irish Revival. Help us, Brethren, to give it a suitable local habitation; and to every one who thus "comes up to the help of the Lord" the blessing will come back, in gracious proportion, according to the promise, Luke vi. 38.

The List of Contributions is unavoidably omitted in consequence of the Secretary's illness.

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS will be thankfully received by the Treasurer, THOMAS PEWTRESS, Esq., or the Secretary, the Rev. CHARLES JAMES MIDDLEDITCH, at the Mission House, 33, Moorgate Street, E.C., or the London Collector, Mr. CHARLES GORDELIER, 14, Great Winchester Street, E.C.; and by the Baptist Ministers in any of the principal Towns. Post-office Orders should be made payable at the General Post Office, to the Secretary.

THE

MAGAZINE.

JULY, 1864.

THE SKELETON IN THE HOUSE.