hereby exhorted to be united as one man. The choir-gallery and vestry under it were not part of the original chapel, but were added as the want of more room became felt.

The Sunday-school, numbering over 240 scholars, is held in the area of the chapel, and the space is quite insufficient for such a number. A site near to has been purchased for a new chapel, which is to be built from the designs of Messrs. Thomas Horsfield and Son, of Manchester. The building will be in two stories, and the space will be occupied with a chapel, school, and several vestries, the last urgently needed. There will be comfortable room in the chapel, which will be on the upper floor, for over three hundred worshippers, but at a pinch (at the anniversaries, for instance) four hundred people will be able to get accommodation.

Some details have already been given as to cost, and it should be mentioned that the trustees have a nice little sum in hand, which warrants them in proceeding with the muchneeded work.

The tea party on Saturday was remarkably successful. There were 265 persons at tea, which large attendance entailed no light work on the ladies, for, through the space being so small, there were as many as six sittings down. The ladies, however, gave their services most cheerfully. All the provisions were kindly given, and the collection after tea realised the goodly sum of £21 58. 4d. for the new chapel. It was chiefly during tea and before the meeting that the old scholars renewed their acquaintance with each other and exchanged cordial greetings. The chair was occupied by Mr. John Naylor, of Ovenden, an old scholar.

The Chairman said it afforded him very great pleasure indeed to meet with so many old and esteemed friends. He thought it a wise and proper thing to give to old scholars, teachers, and friends an opportunity of taking a social cup of tea together for the last

time in this sanctuary. Old recollections sprang up at a time like this in abundance, sometimes painful and sometimes pleasant. They remembered many friends and relatives who once assembled here who had long since passed away to heaven. There were other recollections of a more cheering kind. One could not help thinking what a wondrous power that sanctuary had been in the neighbourhood, what a divine and holy influence had spread from it. It was impossible to tell the good done through their forefathers erecting that old structure. There was doubtless a tone of morality, if not of religion, which would not have prevailed but for that place of worship; nay, they might look through the country, he was almost tempted to say they might go round the world, and find individuals who had benefited by the instruction in that Sundayschool. The Midgley people had not only established this place of worship, but the interest of the Wesleyans at Luddenden Dean was a good deal indebted to Midgley, and their friends at Boulderclough also owed much of their spiritual blessing to the good people of Midgley. Looking to the future, he trusted that, when the new structure was reared, it would be the means of doing a great amount of good in the neighbourhood.

Mr. Alderman Midgley, of Halifax, expressed his pleasure at being at the old place once more before it was pulled down, and was glad to find they had made so much progress that they were able to commence operations at once. He could not imagine them coming together on such an occasion without thinking of old friends whose faces they would never see again, nor without reflecting whether, looking back upon the past, they had been trying to do good. Though the old people would be reviewing the past, a large number of young people were present, and what were they going to do? Were they going to spend their time in teaching Christianity and try

ing to do good, or were they going to waste their lives, to turn gamblers, and to spend their time on ale benches? He counselled them to lead good and useful lives, reminding them that freely they had received, and freely they must give. He was glad they were going to double the accommodation in their chapel, and he hoped it would be a blessing to them and the neighbourhood.

The Rev. H. T. Marshall said that though they were about to demolish the old building, they were not going to destroy its good influence. The streams of influence had gone out thence, one might almost say, to the ends of the earth. It was impossible to number the men of influence, reared perhaps, in humble circumstances there, who had gone to fill important stations in the commercial, political, and religious world. He paid a tribute to the grand old men who had worked in connection with that and other places. He wished they more faithfully preserved their Church records with these old names upon them, so that they might be remembered on such occasions. Let them, with their wider education, larger resources, and many opportunities about which their forefathers knew nothing, determine with the new place to have a fresh consecration to God, and to be not one whit behind their fathers, but to do as good work for God as ever was done in the past.

Mr. Jonas Seed, of Halifax, next gave a hearty address, urging his hearers, especially the young, to do their best for Midgley, remembering that theirs was the only place of worship in the village, and to make it their religious home. He asked them to concentrate their forces on the Sunday-school, and to make that a centre of interest, as so much depended upon it in the right training of the young.

The Rev. George Coates having said a few hearty words, a vote of thanks to the speakers, to the choir, to those

who had provided the tea, and to those who had come from a distance to help them, was then passed.

Mr. Thomas Greenwood, an old scholar, who spoke to the resolution, said it was about twenty years since he left Midgley, and he was very thankful for the influences he took with him from this chapel. He was a transfer from Midgley to Salem, and influence he received at Midgley had exerted a beneficial and restraining influence upon him through life.

The Rev. H. T. Marshall said the new effort had been in contemplation a considerable time, and the friends had between £300 and £400 in the building society towards it. They had about £400 in hand, and some £200 in promises. Plans for a new chapel were obtained a few years ago, but they were of too expensive a character, and trade just then falling off in the neighbourhood, nothing more was done. The new site had been obtained for £140, and the chapel was expected to cost about £1,000, the plans being of a less expensive character than those obtained before.

On Sunday three services were held in the chapel.

In the morning an address was given to a numerous gathering of children, by the Rev. G. Coates, appropriate hymns being sung.

In the afternoon Mr. W. Holdsworth, of Halifax, preached, the sermon taking mostly the form of a reminiscence of his long connection with Midgley Chapel and its people; and he referred to many worthies who formerly belonged to the place, but who had long since gone to their rest. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered after the service.

In the evening the Rev. G. Coates preached the last sermon in the old chapel, taking for his text "Arise, let us go hence." In the course of his discourse, the preacher remarked upon the peculiar solemnity which attached to the term "last;" and while that was the last sermon that would be

preached there, it might also be the last some of them would ever hear. As they joined in the service, their minds were stirred by recollections of the past. The place itself had an attraction for them-its associations were hallowed; and to many of them the memory of relatives or friends who were worshipping there endeared the place to them. There were others who had not benefited by the ministration, to whom, having steeled their hearts against all that was true and noble in Christianity, the chapel would be anything but a happy reminder of bygone days. In conclusion, the preacher pointed out how there was change in all earthly associations, and he appealed to the congregation that, as they were about to arise and go hence to a newer temple, so they might also rise in their aims after usefulness, purity, godliness, and heaven. The collections for the day amounted to £13 16s. 11d., and will be given to the building fund of the new chapel.

The old building has been demolished, and the new chapel is now in course of erection.

NEWTON, HURST CIRCUIT.

THE PROPOSED NEW CHAPEL.

BAZAAR AT HYDE.

Some

THE present chapel was erected in 1815, and though it might at that time be sufficient for the requirements of the locality, it has long been felt to be incommodious. fifteen or sixteen years ago a bazaar was held in connection with the place, and as a result the debt was cleared off. Since then a new structure has been contemplated, though no public effort has hitherto been made on its behalf. That there has been a general feeling on the subject is evident when we find that the good people, prior to asking others for assistance, had worked in a quiet way and realised about £100, exclusive of £167 raised by social teas, &c. True,

this is not a very large sum, but when we take into consideration the condition of the neighbourhood, and the number of friends who have had to seek employment elsewhere, we can but conclude that hard work has had to be resorted to, such work as would, in more favourable times, have insured a much larger return. Their efforts have been fairly seconded by friends, and £154 promised, and an interesting way of assisting the object has been devised by friends beyond the Atlantic. We often hear, in connection with a new building, "Won't you buy a brick ?" and this is the means adopted by a number of Newtonians who left this country for America some time ago, to assist in raising a new chapel. It appears that Mr. John Simister, an energetic member of the congregation, had a number of small cards struck off, with "A brick" printed on; he forwarded some to friends in America, and mentioned that a new chapel for Newton was in contemplation. This was sufficient; the nationalised Americans took the thing in hand, and began selling bricks of Newton Chapel at a dollar each, and by this means a considerable sum, it is expected, will be realised. We give this simply to show the interest taken in the work. The enterprise inaugurated on Thursday, March 22, was calculated to realise £200, and though this seems a large sum for people not in the best of circumstances, the close of the sale saw the prediction fulfilled, and, no doubt, when all the promises have been made good, the estimate will be exceeded, and the indefatigable officials will have in their hands something like £620. This much accomplished, they will not be able to rest on their oars, as the estimate for the new struc ture is £1,000, and the difference between the amount realised and that required is such as will necessitate much strenuous exertion to wipe away. They have nothing to be daunted at, however; the adage says, "The more we do the more we are able to do,"

and we think that by a continuance of the diligence and perseverance which have hitherto characterised the efforts of these Newton people, the words of the adage will be proved, and the task, which has been a source of much difficulty for a long time, accomplished.

The opening ceremony commenced shortly after the time fixed, and amongst the goodly number of ladies and gentlemen present we noticed the Revs. J. W. Walls, T. J. MacCartney, H. Watts, C. Finch, J. Watkin, J.K. Smith, Hyde; J. Gibson, Hurst; T. D. Crothers, Stalybridge; T. Rider, Ashton; J. Medicraft (chairman of the district), Manchester; Mr. J. H. Burton (architect of the new chapel) and Mrs. Burton, Ashton; Mrs. T. Beeley, Dukinfield; Mrs. Wm. Brooke, Mrs. J. K. Smith, Mrs. H. Oldfield, Mr. Brownson, Mr. George Brownson, jun., Councillor J. Mycock, Councillor Broadbent, and others.

The Rev. J. Gibson presided, and after devotional exercises, remarked that he desired, in the name of the committee, to give a very hearty welcome to the friends who were present to help them in that enterprise. They were also very much pleased to have a large number of the Dissenting ministers of the town and neighbourhood with them. While they each took their independent stand on religion in external matters, yet, on Christian grounds, they felt they were thoroughly connexional; and he trusted that such a catholic spirit would continue. He assured them that they had come to help a very worthy people, a people who had done a great deal to help themselves before asking others. The object of the work was well known, and anyone who had been in the old chapel would say that they required a new one. The enterprise had been on the tapis for some time, but on various accounts had been postponed-through the loss of trade and the removal of people from the neighbourhood. The chapel

was the oldest place of worship in the village, and had, therefore, considerable claim upon it, and also upon the surrounding neighbourhood. Good service had been done in the school; generations of scholars, during the last sixty or seventy years, had passed through its classes, and had received much good; many were now living much happier lives on earth, whilst others had passed to the presence of God. Mr. Gibson stated that, besides the £321 raised towards the fund by various means, the members had scraped together £100, which showed them to be in earnest, and, he thought, deserving of assistance. After observing that a plot of land had been selected, and that negotiations concerning such were pending, he called upon the pastor of George-street chapel to introduce Mr. Green.

The Rev. J. W. Walls said he had great pleasure in complying with the order of the chairman, although he thought that the gentleman he had to introduce was well known to all of them. He might tell them that Councillor Green had always been ready and willing to help them; and when he and Mr. Bedford waited on him, he consented to serve them. Green not only supported Georgestreet, but also a number of other places in the town, and they were much very pleased to see him amongst them, and it afforded him great pleasure to introduce him to company.

Mr.

the

Councillor Green, who was heartily received, said the most praiseworthy thing of all in connection with the efforts of the Newton people to secure a new chapel was that they had helped themselves. He was sure that they must be men and women of strong mind and determined will to ever think of building a chapel at Newton. The trade of the village had been depressed for a long time, and if it continued they would be led to wonder who they were going to put in the

chapel when it was erected. Nearly all the premises round about the place were empty, and he thought they might have as much land as they liked. Referring to the name of the Connexion, he said he considered it a wrong one, inasmuch as it was not new, though not as old as the Baptists. The Connexion had been in existence for about eighty-six years, having been formed in 1797, Mr. Kilham preaching the first sermon on the 7th of May at Leeds, in what was, prior to that time, the Ebenezer Baptist Chapel. The Connexion grew greatly, but when Mr. Kilham seceded, he took away with him 5,000 people, but long afterwards Mr. Barker took with him 5,000, and thus put them on a level again. They had at the present time in the Connexion 512 chapels, with 33,143 members, and 465 schools, with 80,495 scholars, which showed that they had not been idle during the last eighty-six years. And when they took

into consideration what had been done by the Wesleyans, Independents, Primitives, and various other denominations of the land, it was wonderful how the people had found money to carry out such a gigantic work, which was, they would all agree, very praiseworthy, and by means of which much good must be done to the world at large. Such prodigious results had been brought about by the energy and determination of the people, and he considered that the Newton friends showed themselves possessed of good and strong nerves in undertaking that work at the present time. He must say, however, that they were pushed on by good friends, for he had been informed that some Newton people who went to America about twenty years ago were sending much assistance in a peculiar manner-viz., by selling small cards with the words "a brick" printed on, at a dollar each, and the proceeds they intended to devote towards the building of a chapel at Newton. From the friends in America he hoped they would take an example,

and try to help in the good work, and they might rest assured that when they rendered a helping hand to those who helped themselves, they were indeed doing good. He then declared the bazaar open.

Mr. Gibson having announced that Councillor Green had given them a substantial donation,

The Rev. T. Rider proposed a vote of thanks to the donor, and, in doing so, said the Connexion was indebted to Mr. Green for the assistance he had rendered them in many ways. They could not but be refreshed by the pleasant appearance of the room that morning, and he thought it augured well for the success of the enterprise, which was for a very good and beneficial purpose. Alluding to what Councillor Green had said with reference to the Connexion, Mr. Rider said it was sometimes with difficulty that people were led to understand why their society was called New Connexion, as it had been established eighty-six years. The reason, was, however, simple enough; they adopted the name to distinguish themselves from the original society. They claimed, as New Connexion people, that they started on ecclesiastical lines of great freedom, and had to a considerable degree popularised some new liberal ideas in reference to Church polity; but, after all, their principal work was the salvation of souls and the glorification of their Master.

The Rev. J. K. Smith seconded the proposition, and the Rev. J. Medicraft supported it. He expressed a conviction that they would be called New Connexionists if they lived a thousand years, and might they live to see that day. It was very pleasant to him to meet the people of Hyde and Newton together, with whom he had very pleasant associations, and respecting whom he had very pleasant memories. He was very desirous that the cause should prosper, and considered it a healthy sign when old places failed with age that new ones