The other letter was from Mrs. Burton's brother, William James Brown, who was in business as a coal merchant, in the big black town of Smokington. He expressed his sorrow for her trouble, and concluded by saying that if either of the lads felt inclined to come to Smokington, and try and make his way in the world, he would be glad to see him.

You may be sure that these letters caused no little excitement at the cottage. The family council discussed long and anxiously all sorts of plans. At last it was decided that Frank and John should accept the invitations, and Mrs. Burton and Kate stay on at Earlston. In order to lessen expenses, it was proposed to give Beccy warning; but when the subject was mentioned, the poor girl began to sob and cry, and declared she "didn't want no wages." Now, as her wages were only sixpence a-week, this would not have made much difference, but her mistress was so touched with this display of affection, that she could not find heart to dismiss her. Kate was pupil-teacher at the village school, and so earned a trifle. Mrs. Burton had an annuity of 157., which had been left her by an aunt; she was clever at her needle, and had often helped her husband in his work, and so she decided to keep on the business, and advertise in the Christian World for "a young man of good character who understands tailoring in all its branches."

When we put an advertisement into the papers, we let down a baited hook into a mighty sea, full of unknown fishes. What we may catch is altogether uncertain. It may be a herring or a whale, a rainbow-coloured dolphin or a ghastly shark. Mrs. Burton, as we shall presently see, caught a fish of no common order.

On the morrow,

And now the day before the parting is come. early, both the lads are going in the carrier's cart to the town of Boothampton, where there is a railway station. Little is said, for the excitement of packing is over, and only the dull fact remains that the family circle is to be broken-perhaps, for ever. A thousand anxious thoughts flit through Mrs. Burton's mind as she looks at her two boys. She does not fear much for Frank-he is staid and serious; but John is full of frolic, and, though well-meaning, lacks firmness. The supper is over; and now Beccy brings the big Bible to Mrs. Burton. With a somewhat faltering voice, she begins to read the 34th Psalm; but as the sweet assurances, one after another, dawn upon her

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him,
And delivereth them;

...

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,

And His ears are open unto their cry,—

she becomes more composed; and it is with calm faith that she reads the grand conclusion—

The Lord redeemeth the soul of His servants :

And none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.

Then they all knelt down, and Mrs. Burton offered a simple prayer, to which the hearts of her children responded. She commended her dear boys to the loving care of Him who has promised to be the Father of the fatherless; she prayed that in the storm of temptation He would be their hiding-place, and in the toils of life, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land, and that the Angel of His presence might lead and sustain them in all their ways. The family then retired to rest, but there was little sleeping in the cottage that night, and with the first glimmer of the fair June morning, the household was astir.

John was soon hastening through the dew-laden grass, on his way to the Mill, to say farewell; whilst Frank busied himself in making the last preparations for the journey.

(To be continued.)

Announcements.

FREE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

The ninth Annual Assembly, or Convocation, of the Free Church of England will (D.v.) be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 27th and 28th of June. For particulars see special circular.

At the last meeting of the Council it was determined, on account of the approaching Convocation, to hold the next meeting of the Council (D.V.) on the second Tuesday in June, the 13th, at four o'clock.

AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS.

I do hereby declare that I have examined the accounts of the Free Church of England from the commencement to March 31, 1871, and I find there has been

Received by Mr. Willcocks, the first Treasurer,

I also find that the present Treasurer, Mr. Wilson, has
Received, to the 31st March last, the sum of
And that he has disbursed to the same date

...

...

115 12 0

£76 8 0

75 5 1

Leaving a balance in his hands on 31st March, 1871 £1 2 11

And I further beg to report that I have duly examined all the cheques and vouchers for the said payments, and I can certify the same to be

correct; so that the summary of the Treasurer's account to March 31, 1871, stands thus:

Leaving a nett balance due to Treasurer March 31,

Full particulars of this audit will be published in the Annual Report and in the Magazine.

CONFERENCE OF THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S CONNEXION.

The fiftieth Conference of the Ministers and Managers and Trustees of Chapels in the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion will be held (D.V.) at Spa-fields Chapel on Monday evening, June 26th, at six o'clock. A Public Tea Meeting in the large School-room, after which the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Spread of the Gospel at Home and Abroad, will be held. The Treasurer, one of the Trustees of the Connexion, will take the chair at seven o'clock. The Rev. J. Trotter will present the Sierra Leone report, and several ministers and friends will address the meeting.

On Tuesday morning, at eight o'clock, Prayer Meeting, with Address by Rev. Ira Boseley.

On Thursday, June 29th, the Anniversary of the College at Cheshunt. The Sermon by the Rev. R. W. Dale, M.A., of Birmingham. The Right Hon. Earl Russell will preside.

Оn for a higher style of Christian life!

GOOD is self-knowledge, but Christ-knowledge best.

THINK less of ease and gain, than usefulness.

A GOOD man is a silent homily.

OUR leisure is the Devil's tempting time.

BE doubly watchful in prosperity.

TIME will be priceless, ere we come to die.

OUR praise should be as boundless as God's love.
NONE are so wrong as they whose lives are wrong.
-Lever Lines.

Ecclesiastical Register.

BRIGHTON.

We continue our Report of the Opening Services from our last number, where will be found an account of the morning service.

At the conclusion of the morning service, a luncheon was served in the Banquetingroom of the Pavilion by Mr. Booth, of East-street. The tables and room were decorated with flowers and shrubs by Mr. Spary, and had a very effective appearance. A great portion of those who had taken part in the service attended, besides many others who were unable to be present earlier. The Right Hon. the Earl of Chichester presided, the following being the Vice-Chairmen : Mr. S. Aylen, Mr. G. D. Sawyer, Mr. G. W. Hilton, and Mr. J. Jeffcoat. There was a numerous and distinguished company.

The noble CHAIRMAN proposed "The Health of Her Majesty the Queen." He said we knew Her Majesty to be actuated by a catholic spirit towards the different Churches of this land. She was a loyal member of the established Chnrch of England; and when in Scotland she was, with equal loyalty and honesty, a member of the Kirk. Therefore, he had but followed Her Majesty's example in joining to-day with those who belonged to a different denomination to himself. He thought that at the present time there was an earnest of a better spirit between the different denominations of Christians in this country. (Hear, hear.) He was glad to see signs of greater Christian charity, forbearance, and good-will between the different members of Christ's Church. He could not help thinking such feelings were increasing; and he was glad of it, because we could not expect God to bless Churches which kept aloof altogether from others. (Applause.)

The Earl of KINTORE proposed "The Health of the Preachers of the Day." He spoke in warm terms of the sermon delivered in the morning, characterizing it as being full of sound Scriptural doctrine. He was always very pleased to propose such a toast as that now committed to him. Taking up the remarks of the noble Chairman, his lordship said he hailed with satisfaction the symptoms of catholicity in the Church. He trusted these symptoms might spread; and that, under proper safeguards, the Church might be the property of all ordained ministers. (Applause.) If such a thing took place, he should indeed rejoice. He hailed, too, with satisfaction the greater sympathy between laymen and ministers; for he thought that both should go hand in hand in reclaiming sinners, for in Christ there was room for all, and room to spare. (Applause.)'

The Rev. DONALD FRASER thanked them for the manner in which they had received the toast. He considered it not a mere matter of courtesy and friendly feeling to come to a service like that when asked; he considered it simply a piece of Christian duty, so far as their strength permitted, to share in one another's services and rejoice in one another's joys. (Applause.) He had tried to preach and exemplify an interest in each other's Church work and Gospel work. He hoped a large-hearted, a healing, and a comprehending spirit was about to take possession more and more of the Christian Churches in this country, and that without the slightest failure in loyalty to the truth of God, which in all its elements and fair proportions was a very different thing to mere ecclesiastical arrangements. (Applause.) Never was there a time when it was more necessary to preach the Gospel, and for the full and comprehensive teaching of the truth of Christ. He was glad they sympathized with and appreciated the labours of those who belonged to other denominations.

The Rev. H. ALLON said he had hardly a right to respond to that toast, as he should not be a preacher till the evening. However, he supposed they received him on credit; or rather, their gratitude was of that kind which had been described as a lively expectation of favours to come. (Laughter.) He was thankful to be present and to be permitted to take part in the interesting proceedings of that day. Mr. Sortain was a dear friend of

his, and his tutor at college; and to the day of his death he cherished for him an amount of affection, amounting almost to reverence, not only for his great powers, but also for his genial kindness and the Christian catholicity of his spirit. He was greatly affected in coming for the first time, for many years, to the place where Mr. Sortain ministered, and

he would even admit that he had divided his attention between the memorial window and the excellent sermon. Mr. Figgis had given him credit for greatly influencing the determination to build a new church. He was, however, hardly entitled to that credit. When Mr. Figgis proposed an enlargement, he recommended the building of a new church capable of accommodating 1,200 or 1,400 people. He regretted that the limited ground on which the old chapel stood had prevented that wish being realized. He congratulated Mr. Figgis and the congregation on the completion of the new building. He thought that when the colouring had been done and the building was toned, it would be a good place indeed. There would be a delicious harmony about it, and plenty of light, but not too glaring. Structurally, it seemed to be one of the most effective places he had recently seen, and likely to answer all the purposes for which it would be required. He had no sympathy with architects who built places of worship with many columns, behind which people might get in order not to see the preacher. (Laughter.) If architects could not devise better places of worship than those to which he had just alluded, he thought they had better hand over their profession to the preachers. (Laughter.) He was glad to say there were no inconveniences of that kind in Mr. Figgis's chapel. He believed everybody had a fair view of the preacher, and could listen to his words. There was a little debt remaining, about which Mr. Figgis was anxious. But he thought he need not be. If works could at any time justify faith, what had already been accomplished towards the expense of rebuilding gave them reason for believing that the debt would soon be paid. 1,500l. or 1,6007. ought to be nothing in a place like Brighton, especially after what had been already done. Mr Allon went on to say that he thought it every man's duty to preach the Gospel according to the ability bestowed upon them by God. He could no more interdict a labourer from preaching the Gospel than from going to see the sick. He hoped the time would come when all foolish restrictions about preaching would be removed by the common consent of the Church. In the Episcopal Church, the importance of using lay help had been seen, and the employment of such help had largely increased. He was sure that ministers could never convert the world to God; and if the world waited till ministers did so, he was afraid the Millennium was a long way off. (Applause.)

The Rev. SNOWDON SMITH said a most pleasant duty had devolved upon him—namely, of proposing "The Health of the noble Chairman." He had watched the Earl of Chichester's movements for many years; and he could say, with all honesty and sincerity, that he had always found his lordship most devoted in Christian work. He stood out prominently; and the principle he seemed to follow was, to take every occasion of doing that which would promote the honour of our Divine Master and extend the knowledge of Christian truth. (Applause.) His lordship was a bond of union between the different denominations in the county. He should rejoice at the coming of that time--and this might be an anticipation of it—when, in God's good providence, those who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity might meet together and find some way by which the Church of Christ could be more united in the truth and love of Jesus. (Applause.) The Chairman had been, and he hoped would continue to be, a bond of union in that great work, and he trusted he might long be spared. (Applause.)

The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the toast. He said that, however feeble and deficient might be his efforts to promote the cause of Christ in that town, it had always been the wish of his heart to perform that duty in a way which should promote peace and brotherly love amongst different denominations. (Applause.) Under the guidance of God, he had always had a catholic feeling. He took no credit for it; it happened to be his way of thinking that Christians should work together on a broader and more catholic principle. It was, therefore, both a privilege and a duty for him to come and offer his humble efforts towards that object. (Applause.) That was the principle which had actuated him in being present that day; and he deserved no thanks for what he had done. The occasion had been one of pleasure to him, and he hoped also of profit to his own soul. He prayed that the blessing of God might rest upon the building the opening of which they were celebrating. He wished to propose a toast, "Peace and Prosperity, under God's blessing, to the New Church." Mr. Allon had spoken with truth of the beauty of the building. He himself had been much struck with it. He thought it realized what he had often suggested to modern architects-viz., to endeavour, without sacrificing what