when I found him; but this, I am happy to say, I soon replaced with 'A Saviour for You,' 'Heaven, and how to get there,' and a New Testament. These from this time became his sole companions, and I soon found possessed the charm the 'paper' had once done, and seemed much blest to his soul. I visited him almost daily, and at length, when death drew nigh, although so much regretting the past, he looked forward to the future with sure and certain hope; and I feel sure that he has gone to be with Jesus, which is far better. "Annexed is a list of meetings I have held during the past three months:4 Sermons at Park Chapel. Preached Ruislip Common. Hounslow, Providence Chapel. Delivered 4 Lectures to the Young. Conducted 3 Temperance Meetings. 13 Band of Hope Meetings at Ragged Schools. 6 Made ,, 71 Sick Visits. British Workman, "The attendance at Park Chapel was never better. "I am, Gentlemen, yours faithfully, "CHAS. HENWOOD." Contributions received from 19th January, to 11th March, 1876. BERKSHIRE 0 0 Blackwater, York Town 1 1 0 Bourton .....H 1 0 1 1 0 ...I 0 10 6 Wallingford Wokingham Windsor, Mrs. Lillycrop 43 2 9 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE I 6 8 4 6 11 6 517 6 010 O I 16 19 0 Dividends on Railway Stock, per Mr. G. LEGACY. Houghton, the late Mr. J., of Liverpool, by Messrs. Eaton & Son LONDON AND MIDDLESEX Artbur-street, Camberwell Gate. Kilburn, Canterbury-road, Edwards, Paddington, Church-street, part of Peckham, Rye-lane Poplar, Cotton-street, Dr. Cumming... 0 10 6 Maryport, subscriptions Whitehaven, Jackson, Mr. & Mrs. J. A. 200 Amersham, Lower Ch., collection 336 0 0 10 High Wycombe Clarke, Mr. D.. CUMBERLAND ..........I 2 15 6 115 G Sums received by Mr. Bacon for the Children of the late Mr. Rock, of Ballymena. 010 0 5 0 Miss Montgomery, Coleraine 1 0 0 0 10 0 211 0 07 Rev. W. R. Payne, Bugbrook. Mrs. Taunton, Salisbury 1 0 0 Mr. J. Tritton, London.. 3 3 0 0 10 0 Dr. Waters, Coleraine Subscriptions in aid of the British and Irish Baptist Home Mission will be thankfully received by the Treasurer-J. P. BACON, Esq., 69, Fleet-street, London, E.C., and by the Secretary, Rev. J. BIGWOOD, at the Mission House, Castle-street, Holborn, London, E.C. Contributions can also be paid at Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, Tritton & Co.'s, Lombard-street. OP THE British & Irish Baptist Home Mission MAY, 1876. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31ST, 1876. IN the hope of awakening a deeper interest in the operations of the Society, and inducing a feeling in the Churches throughout the denomination that the Society is emphatically THEIR OWN, and therefore justly claims their most hearty and generous support, it was resolved, at the last Annual Meeting, to invite every Association to become an Auxiliary to the Society, and elect its Secretary, or some other person, to be a member of the Committee, and to represent the Society in the Association by which he is appointed. A copy of this resolution was sent to the Secretary of each Association that it might be discussed at its Annual Meeting, and also to all the ministers. As far as practicable, the Secretary attended meetings of the Associations, in order to urge the adoption of the resolution, and solicit their sympathy and co-operation. In every case he was cordially received. Some of the Associations adopted the resolution in its entirety, and appointed representatives on the Committee; and all of them commended the Society to the cordial support of the Churches. During the past year, Mr. Murphy has been actively engaged breaking up new ground, and endeavouring to obtain additional help among the old friends of the Society. A more general interest in the Society has resulted. In many fresh places collections have been made, and new subscribers enlisted, and in others larger sums than usual have been obtained. In addition to these measures a special appeal has been made in aid of church and denominational extension in connection with the Society. A paper showing the work it now does in this direction, and indicating districts in which such work might at once be com menced, has been widely circulated. The outcome of all these efforts has been a small increase in the income of the Society. The removal, year by year, by death of old friends; the additional evangelistic efforts made in all directions, by Churches in their own immediate neighbourhood, which are regarded by them as Home Mission work, and induce frequently a cessation, and more frequently a diminution, of help to this Society; and the multiplied claims which daily force themselves upon the benevolence of Christians, render it necessary that new sources of contribution, larger and larger every year, should be opened up, to keep stationary the Society's income, and render almost hopeless the attempt to increase it to any extent. During the year, however, excluding legacies from the calculation, the contributions for the united mission have amounted to £1,392, about £130 in excess of last year or the year preceding; and the contributions for the Home department of the work amount to nearly £1,000, about £350 in excess of either of the last two years. But the contributions to the Irish branch of the work have decreased about £300. This decrease may be accounted for by the absence of three or four special contributions which were received last year. It appears, however, from a comparison of the reports of the last ten years, that direct contributions for Ireland have gradually decreased and that, more than can be accounted for by the regular increase in the contributions to the united mission. This fact is commended to the consideration of the readers of this report, in the hope that fresh zeal may be enkindled on behalf of a country in which the operations of the Society were never more necessary, and never more blessed to the conversion of sinners than at the present moment. During the year the legacies have amounted to about £600, as against £1,400 in the year preceding. Your Committee, in concluding this subject of their report, express their gratitude to Him to whom belong the silver and the gold, and in whose hand are the hearts of both rich and poor, that the income has been equal to the expenditure, and that at the close of the year they have a somewhat larger balance in hand than at the commencement. During the year the work of the Society has steadily progressed both in Great Britain and Ireland, and the reports from the several fields of labour inspire gratitude and hope. There have been the cloud and the sunshine. It has not been all bright-neither has it been all dark. The goodness of God has sustained and cheered the hearts of the brethren, and in most cases the toil has been succeeded by the harvest. The usual complaints of increasing Ritualism and High Church intolerance are found in the letters of some of the brethren, and others speak of spiritual depression and mourn over small success; but the large majority of the letters tell of baptisms, and breathe a cheerful spirit. At Eastbourne, eighteen have been baptized; at Faversham, fifteen; at Hornsey Rise, thirty-five; at Redditch, nine; at York, eighteen; at Bournemouth, nineteen; at Woodstock, eight; at Longhope, seventeen; at Brough, eight; Milford and Ashley, eight; and at Swanwick, eighteen. In the other churches the additions have been smaller; but there is scarcely one in which there have not been conversions and baptisms. The letters do not simply record additions to the churches, but indicate a condition calling for thankfulness. One brother writes:-"Everything denotes health. Labourers are forthcoming for the various departments of Christian service, and unitedly we are looking forward with great confidence to a year of large blessings." "The year has been one of blessing and much success. At no period since the formation of the Church were prospects more cheering," is the language of another. A third writes:— "The past year has been one of hard work and also of blessing. Thirteen have been baptized; two are waiting for baptism; and others are anxiously seeking the Saviour. The congregations have greatly increased, and our weeknight services are very well attended." Many similar quotations might be given, evincing the same gratitude and hope, and proving that the work of your agents has not been in vain in the Lord. The colporteurs have continued their work during the year. Mr. Mizen has been labouring in connection with the Church at Downton. His district has Downton for its centre, and extends about twenty-four miles from one point to another, and comprises twenty-five villages, many of them very scattered, and possessing a considerable population. He has given away a large number of tracts, many of which he knows have been read; has paid thousands of visits; has been frequently called upon to instruct and comfort the sick and the dying; and has been generally engaged in preaching on the Lord's day. Mr. Hodge, who labours in West Medina, in addition to the sale of a large number of Bibles and Testaments and religious publications, has quite revived the Sunday School at Wellow, and organized a weekly service which is well attended, besides visiting many sick, and giving lectures occasionally at Wellow and Yarmounth. It was reported last year that a new Church had been formed at Tunbridge Wells, and that in connection with the Kent and Sussex Association, your Committee had been able to secure the settlement there of an efficient minister, the Rev. W. K. Armstrong, B.A. The undertaking has succeeded beyond expectation. The regular Sunday evening congregation exceeds 200 persons; the Church numbers 55 members; and if a suitable and well-situated place of worship were erected, there could be no doubt of the rapid progress of the Church and congregation. A new Church has recently been formed at Bournemouth and Boscombe, about two miles distant, under the direction of the Rev. H. C. Leonard, M.A. There are two congregations and one Church. A new chapel has been opened at Boscombe which is well attended, and one is being erected at Bournemouth, meetings being held in the British Schoolroom during its erection. The Church already numbers more than forty members. Your Committee have promised to this new and interesting undertaking £60 per annum for two years, and hope that by the expiration of that time it will have become able to support itself, and in its turn help others. At Aldershot a Church was formed about two or three years since which has been aided by the Society. Mr. Wainwright has been supplying there for several months with great success. The Church numbers more than twenty members, and the congregation on the Sunday evening amounts to about 120. There is a Sunday School with an average attendance of eighty children, and well supplied with teachers. Mr. Wainwright, relying on the promised help of the Society, has accepted an invitation to the pastorate, and will remove there very shortly. Your Committee are very desirous of multiplying cases of this kind. It is one of the most important operations of your Society. Of the sixty Churches, at the present time helped by the Society, about twenty were by its aid either originated or nursed into active and vigorous life. There are at least a hundred towns and centres of population in this country in which a Baptist minister ought forthwith to be stationed and a Church formed. Applications for help are continually being received from infant Churches full of promise, and from |