76 15 10 4 0 0 81 7 11 The Treasurer in Account with the General Baptist Home Missionary Society. Eastern 100 00 40 0 0 Legacies Rents and Interest 18 10 0 126 7 10 and Stationery Legal Expenses, &c.. Balance 27 7 1 16 14 8 210 13 0 .. 57 0 0 80 0 0 500 0 0 THE General Baptist Magazine. AUGUST, 1884. The Association at Loughborough. THERE is no place on earth more fit to receive the Association of General Baptists than is Loughborough, and the fact that the Association has met there ten times since 1770 is one proof of this. The place, happily situated-the capacious and beautiful chapels-the fine weather -the genial hospitality of the friends-the spirit of the meetings-the general tone of the services-the large audiences-and the sight of old familiar faces, all combined to make the 115th Association successful in an eminent degree. Preliminary committee meetings in connection with various departments of the denominational machinery were held in the afternoon of Monday, June 23rd. Early in the evening a devotional service was held in Wood Gate chapel, presided over by the Rev. E. Stevenson— "O good gray head which all men knew," and which all were glad to see. After this service the public meeting on behalf of the College commenced, and the chair was taken by E. Johnson-Ferguson, Esq., M.A., whom the Liberals in Loughborough hope to send at the next election to represent them in Parliament. After an address from the chairman on the progress of education in England, Professor T. Goadby, the President of the College, followed with a vigorous speech in which he discussed the part which the churches take in marring and making the ministry. The next speaker was the Rev. R. Glover, President of the Baptist Union, who, after expressing the pleasure he felt in being present, and his sympathy with the object of the meeting, argued the importance of the Christian ministry, and the desirability of having the best men of our churches in the pulpit. On Tuesday morning, at seven o'clock, a devotional meeting was held, and addresses delivered by the Revs. J. R. Godfrey and S. Hirst. At 9.45 p.m. the first business session commenced in Wood Gate chapel, and the first thing to be done was to confirm the action of the Committee of Exigencies, in requesting the Rev. W. Bishop, of Leicester, to accept the presidency of the year. The retiring president then welcomed his successor, and the new president proceeded to deliver his GENERAL BAPTIST MAGAZINE, AUGUST, 1884.-Vol. LXXXVI.-N.S. No. 8. 282 THE ASSOCIATION AT LOUGHBOROUGH. address on "What is to be the Religion of the Future?"-an address which will well repay those who take the trouble to read it, when printed in the Year Book. Timely, thoughtful, well-prepared, and well-delivered, it was worthy both of the Association and its president -an able vindication of the religion of Christ, and a reason concerning the hope that is in us. When the address, which was heartily received, was concluded, a deputation, consisting of the President and Secretary of the Baptist Union, was introduced, who advocated the claims of Baptist Union Funds, especially the Annuity and Augmentation Funds. It was stated that whilst 12 per cent. of the pastors who will benefit by the Annuity Fund are General Baptists, only 2 per cent. of the contributions to the voluntary part of the Fund come from General Baptist churches. Several things may be urged in qualification of this statement, but evidently we are not distinguished among our friends for liberality. Indeed, if any one will look through the list of subscriptions to the Annuity Fund, he will find but few G.B.'s among the many donors of sums ranging from £50 and upwards. The Rev. Watson Dyson, Association Secretary, read his report for the year, which showed that though we were not making the progress we ought to do, we are by no means decreasing. Beginning the year with a membership of 26,621, we had added by baptism during the year 1291, received 754, restored 99. We had transferred 460, excluded 100; the dead were 335, erased 1025. Deducting losses from gains, and deducting also for the extinct church at Rocester, we were 220 more in our home churches than last year, and 52 more in the Mission churches, making a total of 26,893. From these figures it is manifest that our rate of progress per cent. is very much greater in our Foreign churches than it is at home. The public Home Missionary meeting was held in the evening, in Wood Gate chapel, Alderman George Stevenson in the chair. After the chairman's speech the Rev. J. Fletcher, the secretary, read the annual report, which showed that the society was making a very wise and effective use of the resources at its disposal. But it seemed almost pitiable that a society of so many churches as are in association should have raised an income of only £400 per annum. Effective speeches were made by the Revs. A. H. Lee, W. H. Tetley, W. J. Avery, and R. Glover (of Bristol). The last speaker, whose presence in the Association was heartily appreciated, spoke in favour of more going and coming between the two sections of the denomination; and urged upon his audience the need of more liberal contributions. The visit of the Baptist Union President, who is venerable without being old, witty and genial as well as wise, was a very welcome one; and many would rejoice if it should help on a time when there will be only one compact body of evangelical Baptists in the land. On Wednesday the day's meetings were commenced in the morning by a devotional service at seven o'clock, with an appropriate address by the Rev. F. J. Bird, of Hitchin. At nine o'clock, under the chairmanship of Mr. W. H. Mallet, of Nottingham, a Sunday School Conference was held. The large assembly showed the interest which was taken in the subject of discussion-"Our Senior Scholars." Mr. S. THE ASSOCIATION AT LOUGHBOROUGH. 283 Cowling, of Leicester, read a very good paper, which was well received, and an interesting discussion followed. Next we had the Association Sermon. Baxter Gate chapel, when full of people, is inspiring to behold. In a different sense from the burning bush in Horeb, it is yet a great sight, and worth turning aside to see. The preacher, the Rev. T. R. Stevenson, took for his text Exodus iii. 3-" And Moses said, 'I will now turn aside, and see this great sight." The preacher, true to himself, delivered a lively sermon, which was attentively listened to throughout. In the afternoon the annual Lord's Supper was followed by the Association Letter, on "The Duties of the Churches in relation to the Vices of the Age." Unfortunately the writer, Mr. J. Wallis Chapman, had not time to read the whole of his well-prepared letter. The Foreign Missionary meeting, held in the evening at Baxter Gate chapel, was one of the largest that the Mission has ever known. The chairman was Mr. T. Roe, M.P. for Derby, and an old St. Mary's Gate Sunday-school boy. The secretary's report, so far as regards the work in the mission field, has never been exceeded in interest and encouragement. But the lack of funds and want of men are facts far from cheering. The balance due to the bank has been increased by £184 2s. 7d., and yet there is urgent need to send out at least three additional missionaries to Orissa. Our missionary in Rome, also, appeals for increased help, that he may be able to establish missionstations in parts of Italy outside the capital. The first speaker, after the treasurer had made his statement, was the Rev. J. G. Pike, of Orissa, who made a very earnest appeal on behalf of the Mission staff for further help. He said that if the General Baptists are not able to adequately supply the province with the muchneeded men, he would welcome helpers from the other Baptist Missionary Society rather than that we should continue to be left in sole possession of a province to which we are not doing our duty. Then came Mr. Baynes, the able secretary of the other Baptist Missionary Society, with a speech which, for information, vigour, pathos, and eloquence, will be long remembered. Thursday's sittings were occupied nearly the whole of the day with business. In the space at my disposal it is impossible to do more than refer to some of the principal items. The College occupied first attention. Satisfactory reports of the studies and preaching of the students were read, and the fact that thirteen applications for admission had been made, spoke well for the reputation in which the Institution is held. The financial report showed a balance due to the treasurer on the property and current accounts of over £1000; and it was hoped that something very substantial would be done at the meeting towards clearing it off. The appeal then made did not awaken at the time a very encouraging response, but it is believed that it will lead to action of the right kind among the churches. The Hymnal Trustees' report showed a large sale of hymn-books during the year, and £200 of profit from sales were assigned in grants of £50 each to the College, Building Fund, Home Mission, and a new fund to assist village churches. Also, from the profits on the Periodi |