PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL, ACKWORTH, PONTEFRACT OIRCUIT. CKWORTH is a picturesque village in three divisions, known as High and Low Ackworth, and Ackworth-Moor-Top. It is about three miles south of Pontefract. The streets are wide and clean. The buildings are good; many of which are fronted by pleasant gardens, abounding with shrubs, fruit trees, &c. It has long been noted for its schools. The Friends' school is a large stone building, which was erected as a Foundling Hospital in the year 1757. It was purchased for its present use in 1777 by Dr. Fothergill and others at a cost of £7,000. The number of scholars is limited, there being 170 boys and 120 girls. They pay ten guineas per annum for their board, clothing, and education. There are two other schools; one in K High Ackworth, and the British School in Low Ackworth. Flounder's Institute, situate at Moor Top, was erected in 1848 for the purpose of young men being trained as teachers for the Society of Friends. The number is limited to 12. There are several excellent freestone quarries in the neighbourhood. The inhabitants number 1,813. Primitive Methodism was introduced into this village about the year 1820, and, until 1868, the services were held in cottages, or in the public rooms, with only little success. But a brighter day dawned. John Fields, Esq., of America, having come to reside here for a short time, he resolved to build and give to the Connexion the chapel heading this paper. This he did as a token of respect to us as a community. It is about twenty years since Mr. Fields, with his family, left this country for the New World; and the Lord having prospered him abundantly, he felt obligated to do something to promote the glory of God, and save humanity. The foundation stone was laid on Christmas-day, 1867, by William Milnes Fields, Esq. To him the Rev. H. Crabtree presented a magnificent silver trowel, and Mr. G. Robinson presented a splendid oak mallet, upon which was an inscription in silver-" Presented to William Milnes Fields, Esq., of the United States of America, by the members of the Primitive Methodist Society at Ackworth, Yorkshire, England, in commemoration of his laying the foundation stone of their chape! and school, 25th of December, 1867, and as a humble token of their gratitude for the gift of the chapel and school to the Primitive Methodist Connexion by his esteemed parents, John and Isabella Fields." The Rev. T. Newell, of York, gave the address. This sanctuary was opened for divine worship on Sunday, May 10th, 1868, when sermons were preached morning and evening by the Rev. J. T. Shepherd, of Scotter, and in the afternoon by the Rev. J. S. Balmer, United Methodist Free Church, of Castleford. On the following day Mr. Fields publicly presented the chapel to the Connexion. Mr. J. Cass, of Castleford, presided at the meeting, and addresses were given by the Revs. R. Rundle, H. Crabtree, J. S. Balmer, R. S. Coe (Wesleyan), and J. T. Shepherd, and Messrs. G. Robinson and G. Linney. The building is a very substantial one, and presents a bold and beautiful appearance. The site on which it stands is elevated several feet above the road, and has a frontage of 48 feet, with iron palisadings, and is 120 feet from the front to the back, enclosed with a stone wall. The chapel is 30 feet wide, and 36 feet 9 inches in length, and 15 feet high from the floor to the ceiling. The school-room, which is in the rear of the chapel, is 24 feet by 30 feet, and 19 feet high, having an open timbered roof. Adjoining the school-room there are a class-room and a small vestry for the use of the minister. The general character of the exterior of the chapel is in the Italian style of architecture, and the walls are of pitched face stone, with tooled dressings. The principal front is divided into three bays by pilasters, with moulded caps, from which spring semicircular arches with tooled keystones. The principal entrance is in the centre, and on each is a large circular-headed window. There are also three circular-headed windows on each side of the chapel and five in the school-room. All the windows are glazed with ground glass, with an enamelled margin of a foliage pattern. Above the centre arch in front is the following inscription :-"Primitive Methodist Chapel, 1868. Presented to the Primitive Methodist Connexion by John Fields, Esq., of Pennsylvania, United States of America." A very effective and bold cornice terminates the front in the form of a gable or pediment, surmounted with finials. The principal entrance is approached by a flight of steps. Access to the interior is from an inner vestibule by doors opening into two aisles, which divide the body of the chapel into three divisions. At the opposite end are doors communicating with the school-room and preachers' vestry, between which is an elevated rostrum, with reading desk in the centre, and a mahogany rail on each side, supported by moulded pillars; and immediately in front of it is the Communion platform, with mahogany rail and ornamental iron balusters. The pews are slightly elevated, and are fitted up with stall ends and book boards, and have inclining backs, but no doors. The free seats, with comfortable backs, are at the two angles near the rostrum. The whole of the sittings are stained and varnished. The ceiling is enriched with a voldlorum and four centre flowers. It is amply ventilated, and the impure air is conducted away by means of flues communicating with louvers in the roof. There are separate entrances to the vestry and school-room on each side. The school-room is fitted up with a suitable platform, seats, and cloak-pins, and, together with the classroom and vestry, are lined with wood four feet high, stained, and varnished. There is also a hydraulic warming apparatus on an improved principle fixed in the school-room for warming both it and the chapel. In the yard in the rear of the school are the out-offices, including a coal-house and boiler-house, with the usual appliances for tea-meetings. The work was executed very satisfactorily by Messrs. Wilson, Newsome, and Simpson, of Ackworth, builders, from the designs and under the superintendence of Joseph Wright, Esq., of Hull, architect, at a cost of upwards of £800. For these premises the Conference of 1869, held at Grimsby, passed the following resolution :-" That the thanks of the Conference be presented to Jchn Fields, Esq., of Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, America, for the gift of a chapel and school at Ackworth, Pontefract Circuit, the cost of which is about £800.” ́ The circuit has presented three large photographs of the above to Messrs. Fields, beautifully framed, bearing suitable inscriptions, as a humble token of respect for their noble generosity. A Sabbath-school has been established, which consists of 85 scholars and 16 teachers. The number of members in society is 18. The services are well attended. As there is no debt upon this structure, it is expected that it will become a financial blessing to the station. HENRY GEORGE HIRD. REGISTERED FOR TRANSMISSION ABROAD. How much this well-known expression suggests! It reminds us of William Caxton and his invaluable invention-an invention which is at once the handmaiden of religion and commerce, literature and science, art and freedom. It reminds us of newspapers, first brought out as a species of mental luxury under the auspices of no less a person than Julius Caesar, but now a necessity of civilized life. It reminds us of Sir Rowland Hill, and of the wonderful boon which he has conferred upon society by introducing cheap postage. The phrase is specially welcome to those who are absent from their native land. Emigrants understand its meaning better than we, and appreciate it more highly. Stalwart settlers lifting up their axes on the thick trees of American forests, diligent squatters attending to their immense flocks in the Australian busb, and sundry inquisitive travellers wandering over continental Europe, feel a particular regard for the formula in question. "Registered for transmission abroad" might be written with perfect correctness on the title-page of each Bible. In the high court of Heaven, and by the King of kings, has the sacred Book been declared the property of all ages, the heritage of every land. Such being the case, our duty is twofold-first, to read it ourselves, and then to give it to others. No means should be unemployed, no opportunity neglected, by which to put the hallowed volume in the hands of the whole human family. Many considerations urge us to such a course. We instance some. "Registered for transmission abroad" should be our maxim, because we owe so much to those who are abroad. No mean argument in favour of missions is our great obligation to the heathen. "We are debtors." Take India as an example. How manifold are the secular blessings which it confers, and has conferred, upon us! Some of the commonest articles of food and clothing are produced there. Ask the missionary who has dwelt there, and he will tell you that wherever he may go in England he sees something to remind him of the great and wonderful Asiatic land. "The spirit-chain which drew Columbus on The poisoned waters of their varied creeds, All flowing out from this world-flooding spring." On this ground we should send the Gospel to those who are heathen. "One good turn deserves another." Do they provide for our bodies? Let us minister to their souls. Do they furnish us with articles of diet and raiment ? Be it ours to send them the robe of righteousness and the bread which cometh down from Heaven. Do they furnish us with precious stones? We ought to put them in possession of the pearl of great price, and do what we can in order that they may have "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." "Transmission abroad," moreover, is a certain means of blessing those who transmit. Benevolence is ever its own reward. He who gives, gains. Wise and earnest usefulness never fails to bless its promoters Herein nature furnishes us with a parallel. "Amid the hills retired A fount began its flow, To bless the lands below; And though its wealth it freely spent, It grew the richer as it went. "For solitary hills, From stores of rain and snow, Their sympathy to show; And soon the river on the plains As monarch of their plenty reigns. "Our God in hours retired Can open in our heart A fount of good desired, And such supplies impart, The more it has, the more it gives, And all our life upon it lives." Is it asked wherein the recompense of Christian benevolence lies? It is at least twofold. Happiness is secured. Although "enjoyment," how |