11 29 8 29 28 28 29 30 7 SURREY CHAPEL, TOMBO 101 33 29 28 6 35 36 35 Tuesday 7 Friday 36 37 33 CHRIST CHURCH, HAST 101 2BS 40 41 7 JONES SQUARE BULLOM MISSION, 101 13 13 13 13 2BS 13 ROBENKEH 7 13 13 13 13 13 13 29 28 11 27 31 28 28 33 38 33 37 38 3 37 36 38 35 36 39 37 38 38 37 36 35 37 39 39 35 36 33 38 33 35 35 39 42 40 41 42 40 40 40 41 41 40 41 42 41 41 42 42 40 41 42 40 41 41 42 40 44 45 43 44 44 45 43 45 44 44 43 43 45 43 45 43 45 44 45 45 44 2 29 28 21 40 18 29 4 28 30 41 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 43 43 15 46 5 18 15 19 12 7 25 26 2BS 30 31 11 33 36 35 38 40 N. B.-Every Preacher must attend his own appointment, or provide an accredited supply. It preted that the Liturgy and Holy Scriptures be read in our Chapels every Sabbath-day. 2 10 22 10 2 w 10c 10 2 10 10 10 10 10 2 2 10 10 " 17. 18. 19. " 9 20. 24 23 9 23 24 23 22 23. 24. 18 14 19 14 18 15 17 18 15 27. 23. 19 IS 21 32 20 20 46 16 19 18 32 25 26 5 27 26 27 12 25 12 26 12 25 25 7 27 27 12 26 25 27 27 26 25 25 7 12 27 31 8 41 8 8 17 29 11 8 11 27 11 29 30 28 22 28 31 30 31 11 8 31 29 29 28 28 29 31 28 11 30 2BS 38 16 33 38 4 33 87 35 36 35 38 33 36 36 37 33 37 37 37 38 37 35 35 37 33 37 38 36 38 38 38 42 40 41 42 40 41 40 41 40 14 41 22 41 40 40 40 41 42 40 42 42 41 41 42 42 40 41 40 40 42 40 41 43 43 2BS 43 44 45 44 44 44 43 43 45 43 45 45 43 43 44 44 43 45 43 44 43 42 43 34 45 28 31 41 29 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 The District Meeting will be held in St. Mark's Chapel, Waterloo, October 23, 1867. The Rev. S. M. PRIDDY is our authorised Agent. J. TROTTER, Secretary. 15 29. 46 18 30. 17 31. 2BS 12 w 7 c 25 32. 12 33. 7 34. 27 H. Sawyer, ditto. W. Davis, ditto. B. W. Stewart, ditto. J. A. Macauley, ditto. 21. W C. Tokell, ditto. E. Jonas, Goderich. J. T. Cole, ditto. J. Porter, ditto. J.Coker, Campbell Town. G. Coker, ditto. T. E. Johnson, ditto. D. A. Helper, ditto. T. Cole, Eboi Town. J. Thomas, ditto. W. Jones, ditto. S. A. Palmer, ditto. J. John, Hastings. R. Coker, ditto. 8. L. Peters, ditto. S. A. Brown, ditto. 46. P. T. Tecker, Waterloo, REFERENCES. B.-Baptism. 13 13 13 13 13 w 13 c 13 C.-Christmas-day. 13 w.-Watchnight. 13 S.-Sacrament. LETTERS TO THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON FROM THE REV. JOHN FLETCHER. (FIRST PRESIDENT OF OUR COLLEGE, AND VICAR OF MADELEY, SHROPSHIRE.) (Continued from Page 165.) Madeley, 10th September, 1763. Madam, I have waited in vain for an opening of Providence to mix my tears of sorrowful joy with those which the Lord's late dispensations have made flow from your Ladyship's eyes. I am so tied at present to my parish, so close beset with open wolves, or wolves in sheep's clothing, and so out of the reach of helping friends, that my desire of waiting upon your Ladyship must be turned into an act of resignation. Blessed be God for giving us the unspeakable satisfaction to see Lady Selina safely landed, and out of the reach of vanity. This is mercy rejoicing over judgment of a truth. This is an answer to the blood of Jesus and prayers. This is an earnest of what the Lord will do for my Lord in his time. The Gospel of Christ maintains, and I hope gets a little ground in my parish, notwithstanding the general opposition made against it by all the gentry, and by the rabble, who have thirty ale-houses to drown their convictions in. To the great offence of bigoted people, I preach every morning to the colliers of Madeley Wood, a place that can vie with Kingswood for wildness, and I hope in some measure for reformation. * Lady Selina Hastings was the youngest of seven children, four sons and three daughters; and was one of the six Earls' daughters who assisted the Princess Augusta in supporting the train of Queen Charlotte at her coronation, on the 22nd September, 1761. She was to have been married with the consent of the Countess her mother, and her brother Francis, Earl of Huntingdon, to her relative, Colonel George Hastings, son of Henry Lord Hastings, as he was called by courtesy on account of his affinity to the then bachelor Earl. The following interesting account of the illness and death of Lady Selina was drawn up by the Countess herself; it is copied from a paper in her own handwriting, and affords an affecting evidence of her piety and resignation :— "It pleased our dear God and only Saviour to take from me, May 12, 1763, at three-quarters after four in the morning, my dearest, my altogether lovely child and daughter, Lady Selina Hastings, the desire of my eyes and continual pleasure of my heart. On the 26th of April she was taken ill of a fever, which lasted obstinate till the 17th day from the time it began. On her going to bed she said she should never rise from it more; and from all she said to me through her illness, it was evident that she continued satisfied she could not live. She said she did not begin to think about death then, and that she had no desire to live, 'Therefore, my dear mother, why not now? The Lord can make me ready for himself in a moment, and if I live longer I may not be better prepared; I am a poor creature-1 can do nothing myself-I only hope you will be supported.' She often desired me to pray for her, and with great earnestness accompanied me. And at one time she called me and said, 'My dearest mother, come and lie down me, and let my heart be laid close to yours, and then I shall get rest.' She As to myself, I still hunger and thirst after righteousness, and in some measure taste the sweetness of it, blessed be God; but am still far from being filled-nevertheless this, through mercy, I do: leaving the things that are behind, I press by the actings of faith towards the prize of my high calling in Jesus, if happily I may attain it, and lose myself, my burdensome self, in the abyss of the Saviour's love. Oh, what depths of Satan do I see in the world, and in that little world of iniquity my heart; and yet, thanks be to Christ, my faith fails not. I believe that even this death shall be swallowed up of life. Come, my Lady, let us travel on, sticking close to our heavenly Guide; let us keep a hold of the hem of His garment, by firmly believing the arms of His wise providence and everlasting love are underneath us. Let us hasten to our friends in light; and while we thus stand still, we shall see the salvation-the great salvation of our God. He that cometh will come, and will not tarry; even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly, and let us all be lost together in Thy love and praise ! Mr. Sellon* favoured me with a visit some weeks ago, and we poured out our souls together with joy for your Ladyship. often called on the Lord Jesus to have mercy on her, and complained of her impatience, though no one ever heard a complaint pass her lips, notwithstanding her sufferings were very great. I said she was blessed with patience; she replied, 'Oh, no!' with some tears. During the last four days these sentences at times fell from her, 'Jesus, teach me! Jesus wash me, cleanse me, and purify me!' Lying quiet, she said Two angels were beckoning her, and she must go, but could not get up the ladder.' Another time she said, 'I am as happy as my heart can desire to be!' The day before her death, I came to her and asked if she knew me. She answered, My dearest mother.' I then asked if her heart was happy. She replied, I now well understand you;' and raising her head from the pillow, added, 'I am happy, very, very happy!' and then put out her lips to kiss me. She gave directions to her servant, Catherine Spooner, about the disposal of some rings, observing that she mentioned it to her, lest it should shock her dear mother to tell her. She often said, 'To be resigned to God's will was all, and that she had no hope of salvation but in the mercy of Jesus Christ alone.' Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." Rev. Walter Sellon, a person of obscure origin, who, through self-culture, became an accomplished divine. He had formerly been a Methodist preacher, and the Master of Kingswood School; but on the recommendation of Lady Huntingdon, obtained Episcopal ordination. He was a staunch friend of Mr. Wesley, and took a prominent part in the controversy of 1770. He was confessedly a theological writer of considerable merit, and wielded a sword which was of keen edge from the hilt to the point. Through the influence of the Huntingdon family, he obtained the curacy of Breedon and Smisby, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and was frequently visited by the most distinguished celebrities of the eighteenth century, who preached in his pulpit. About the year 1770 Mr. Sellon left Breedon, having been presented by one of the Ladies Hastings to the living of Ledsham, Yorkshire. Ledstone Hall, in the Providence graciously removed me from London, that the fire of discord and enthusiasm might not kindle upon me. I have nevertheless lately seen two of our perfect friends that came from thence. I would think them young men in Christ, if they did not think themselves fathers. If I may judge of their state by the little light and experience they have in the things of God, they call the life of faith perfection. At this rate, it is certain that your Ladyship and I have an indubitable right to perfection now, for now it is our privilege to look up and believe; but I want a depth of humility and a height of love, both unfathomable, which I did not hear our friends mention. May the Lord sink and raise you, madam, according to the infinite length; and that I and the people committed to my charge may follow you through that way the Cross and regeneration bear us to the throne of grace, and mention particularly the weakest and most obliged of your companions in tribulation, and unworthy servant, JOHN FLETCHER. IMPORTANCE OF DISTRICT MEETINGS. BY THE REV. B. PRICE, PRESIDENT. The District Meeting is a peculiar institution, having in it the nature of a Diocesan Synod, its object being the oversight and prosperity of the congregations within its limits. It had its origin in the revival of the last century, and although still in existence, it has fallen into considerable neglect, and needs to be restored to its former life and vigour. The Connexion of the late Countess of Huntingdon was originally divided into twenty-four districts (vide the "Circular of the Free Church of England"), with a committee consisting of the ministers for the time being and two laymen from each congregation to each district. They were to meet once a-quarter for the purpose of deliberating upon all matters which concern the cause of Christ within their district. One or more of the ministers present were to preach at each meeting; all laymen who compose the District Committees were to be considered members of the General Association. By the Deed Poll of the Free Church of England, all deacons, managers, churchwardens, &c., are members of the District Meeting, and of the Conference or Convocation. The District Meeting, rightly considered, must be regarded as the keystone of the arch, that institution which unites and supports the whole body. Its element is episcopal in the oversight it exercises, presbyterian in its practical working, and is of prime importance to the prosperity of the body. Parish of Ledsham, was the seat of Lady Betty Hastings, the half-sister of the Earl of Huntingdon, and the right of presentation descended by inheritance to the Ladies Anne and Frances Hastings. The present incumbent of Ledsham is a descendant of Lady Catherine Wheler, one of the sisters of Lady Betty Hastings. Mr. Sellon died at Ledsham, of which he was Vicar twenty-two years, and entered into the joy of his Lord, June 13, 1792, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. |