churches visited have contributed £53 1s. 6d., donations from various friends, collections, tea-meetings, etc., have realized about £43, leaving a balance of £2 10s. 6d. in hand with which to commence the work of another year. As fresh openings are constantly occurring, it is necessary that the funds should increase in like proportion, and the Society will also be glad of more voluntary preachers of the right sort. The honorary secretary is Mr. G. E. Elvin, 30, Surreysquare, Walworth, S.E.

On Monday evening, Oct. 17, the annual meeting of the LADIES' MATERNAL SOCIETY was held in the Tabernacle Lecture-hall. Pastor C. H. Spurgeon presided. Pastor J. A. Spurgeon referred to the satisfactory state of the Society's funds, the total receipts for the year having exceeded £110, and the balance to be handed over to the new Treasurer being about £25. Boxes of linen had been lent to 232 poor women, and relief administered in each instance. The Chairman stated that Mrs. Pike desired to resign her office as Treasurer on account of her advancing age, and her inability to attend. Thanks are due to her for long and hearty service. Mrs. J. T. Olney has consented to take her place. Mr. J. M. Smith sang and spoke, Mr. W. Olney pleaded for the employment of an additional visitor to the poor women assisted by the Society, and the Pastor promised £20 towards her support. Mrs. Graney, the Bible-woman already employed, described some of the scenes she had witnessed while visiting, and the meeting was closed with prayer. It was stated by one who knew that the poor mothers of London are often obliged to wash and attend to housework within a few hours of their confinement, having frequently no nurse, and no help of any kind. All hearts were saddened by the stories told, and all felt that nurses are as much needed as evangelists. Wanted, holy, patient, self-denying women who would give themselves to such work! We do not mean this as an advertisement for a paid nurse, but as an application for voluntary workers.

The first hour of the prayer-meeting the same evening was specially on behalf of Sunday-school work. Reports of some of the twenty-eight schools directly or indirectly connected with the Tabernacle church were presented by the superintendents or managers, and prayer was offered by several of the teachers and other friends. Great blessing has been experienced, but there is a general outcry for more teachers. In the more populous parts of London children abound, but teachers are few. The richer classes live out of town, and the poor are left to workers from among themselves. Schools are suffering sadly from this cause. However, the Lord will appear in this thing also.

The afterpart of the meeting was devoted to taking farewell of Mr. J. G. Potter, of the Pastors' College, who has been accepted by the Baptist Missionary Society for work in India. He is going in the first instance to

Calcutta, and hopes ultimately to be stationed with our friend Mr. R. Spurgeon, in Bengal. Earnest prayer was offered for him by the whole church. His missionary ardour and his steady perseverance lead us to expect. great things of him.

Every Thursday evening the friends at the Tabernacle meet for an hour's prayer before the Pastor preaches. The benefit of this season of supplication is felt all round. It is a fine preparation both for hearing and preaching.

COLLEGE.-Mr. G. J. Dann has accepted an invitation from the church at James' Grove, Peckham, and several of the students will in all probability leave us for pastorates.

Mr. C. J. Padley has started for Australia, where he hopes to find a suitable sphere. We commend him to the kindness of friends at the Antipodes.

Mr. H. Winsor, late of Beeston Hill, Leeds, has become pastor of the newlyformed church at South Stockton.

We greatly fear that another member of our Conference has been called suddenly home. A telegram in the papers announces a railway accident near Melbourne, and states that "the Rev. Mr. Garrett and others were killed." As our brother H. H. Garrett lived at Brighton, near Melbourne, it seems probable that his career has terminated thus painfully, though we hope it is not so.

In Memoriam.-On Tuesday, Sept. 27, the beloved wife of our venerable friend and father in Christ, Professor Rogers, passed away, after a happy married life of fifty-eight years, and, as the husband says, at the close of "a long illness endured with much patience and even cheerfulness." Our dear friend is comforted and sustained.

Did our friends observe that we have published Mr. Rogers' Conference Addresses at half-a-crown the volume? These are addresses indeed, full of holy wisdom and rare wit. If there is any difficulty about getting the book, a note to Mr. Thomas, Secretary, Metropolitan Tabernacle, enclosing twoand-sixpence, will secure the volume, postage free. It will hardly be necessary to mention this matter twice to the members of the College Conference, but other ministers will find their money well laid out if they make the purchase.

College Stall at the Bazaar.-We have received from Pastor C. Bloy, Aslacton, a parcel of goods for sale; from Mr. Padley, a valuable patchwork quilt; from Mr. Armstrong, Warrambeen, Australia, a box of goods; and from brethren at Melton Mowbray, Shoreham (Sussex), Waterbeach, and Wingrave, promises of help for the College Stall. This branch of the Orphanage Bazaar is sure to be fruitful. Surely no minister trained in the College will be one penny the poorer for mentioning this matter to his friends, and procuring a little help for the orphan girls. Some who did not help on a former occasion will, we trust, come

forward this time. Children of ministers who were once students are now in the Orphanage; had their fathers foreseen this fact with what an interest would they have looked towards Stockwell! One who prayed at the founding of the Institution remarked that perhaps his children might one day be there. He was well and hearty then, and yet among our boys we have numbered two of his sons. It is a mercy to have such an institution for the boys: now for the girls.

EVANGELISTS.-Messrs. Smith and Fullerton have been at Vernon Chapel, Pentonville, during the greater part of the past month. Our brother Sawday, himself an evangelist of the very first rank, thus writes of their visit, up to the time of making up the "Notes":

"Vernon Chapel,

"King's Cross Road, W.C., "October 18, 1881. "Dear Mr. Spurgeon,-How can I thank you, as I want to, for sending brethren Smith and Fullerton to labour in this neighbourhood? They have been here now just over a fortnight, and the work of God is progressing gloriously.

Though our chapel is in a most unfavourable place for reaching the masses, we have had splendid audiences from the very first. A great many who seldom, or never, attend a religious service are now with us night after night. Such gatherings, both for numbers and interest, I have never been privileged to see in this house before, all these eighteen years. The cornet is a great attraction, so is Mr. Smith's singing, so is the preaching of both our dear brethren. The people go away, and make others long to come, by telling them of the attractive services. Brother Fullerton's preaching is weighty, rousing, and clear. Surely the gospel cannot be put more lovingly and simply than by these two evangelists.

On

"The children come in crowds to hear Mr. Smith on Saturday afternoons. The men's meeting on Sunday afternoons, too, is a marvel both for numbers and interest. Sunday nights Mr. Chamberlain kindly comes over from the Tabernacle, and sings at Vernon. We have a capital audience, although so many of our people are away with brethren Smith and Fullerton at St. Mary's Hall, Agricultural Hall, which, although it is much larger than the chapel, is crowded to excess long before the time for commencing the service. As for the results, they are most varied and cheering. The old, old story, as told by our brethren, has done our own people a world of good, and they have been greatly blessed in preparing for the visit. They have distributed about thirty thousand invitations from house to house, and as many more in the streets, and in factories, etc. They have prayed much, and prayer is being answered, for souls have been saved, I believe, in every meeting. We are busy until a late hour every night leading the anxious to Christ. Some who have

heard me for sixteen years are saved at last. I cannot give special cases now, but there is great joy here at Vernon over prodigals returning home. We hope for larger ingatherings this week and next, and after our brethren are gone.

"I am afraid I shall be presumptuous if I add my testimony as to the fitness of Messrs. Smith and Fullerton for the work of evangelization. They are grand fellows, they work splendidly together, and the hand of the Lord is mightily with them. These are red-letter days at Vernon. How one wishes our churches could all be visited by such men! For just twenty years' unceasing kindness, I remain, dear sir, "Yours gratefully.

"C. B. SAWDAY." Early this month the evangelists are to go to Mr. Stott's chapel, St. John's Wood, and on Monday, Nov. 21, the day after Mr. Moody preaches for us, they are to commence at the Tabernacle a series of services which will probably last three weeks or a month. Let all our friends in the south of London come forward, and use their utmost endeavours to make these services a powerful means of grace; and let friends far and near implore a blessing upon the meetings. Members of the church, while your Pastor is away, be doubly active. Bring strangers to the meetings, and watch for their souls. Oh, that the Spirit of God may send us a great addition to the church of such as are saved! Our dear brother and co-pastor will feel much encouraged if all our workers will put their shoulders to the wheel in this good work.

Mr. Burnham reports that he spent a very enjoyable time among the hop-pickers. He asks us to unite with him in praising God for answering prayer, and sending fine weather for the open-air meetings. During the month that the services were held in the hop-gardens, there was much rain day after day, and yet he and his co-workers were only prevented from holding their meetings on two evenings.

On returning from Kent, our brother went to Leighton Buzzard. The pastor of the church there thus writes of the blessing resulting from his visit:

"My dear sir,-You will be glad to hear of the very successful series of services conducted here by Mr. Burnham during the past week. The services had been preceded by special prayer, and the spirit and tone of those preparatory meetings led us to ex pect a great blessing: nor have we been disappointed. A feeling of interest was generally awakened from the first, and manifest signs of the divine presence were given. As the services proceeded the number of enquirers increased, and the divine blessing was so manifest and abundant that our brother was induced to prolong his stay with us. Last evening, a meeting was held for praise and testimony; that those who had been brought to the Saviour might have

the opportunity to tell of the blessing they had received, and that those who were still seeking might be encouraged. This was a most cheering and heart-stirring gathering. A goodly number of friends assembled; most of whom had been either led to Christ, or deeply impressed by the services; and, as testimony after testimony was given, it was found that a longing for fuller consecration to Christ had been awakened in the hearts of some of our church-members; while in one case, at least, a backslider had been restored. One special feature of the work here has been the holding of meetings in the afternoon for the study of the Scriptures. I must not forget to mention that Mr. Burnham has been greatly aided in his work here by our Brethren Walker, of Houghton Regis, Feltham, of Winslow, and Tomkins, of Ridgmount.

Our hearts have been greatly cheered. There are many, especially among the young folk, who will have reason to bless God throughout eternity that the steps of our Brother Burnham were directed to Leighton. Souls have been saved, many have been led to seek the Saviour, backsliders have been restored, and the spiritual life of believers has been revived, and, while we rejoice over the results which are already apparent, we are confident that some good has been done of which the fruits are yet to be made manifest.

"Yours very truly,

"GEORGE DURRELL." Mr. Burnham's engagements for this mouth are, November 1 to 7, Watton, Norfolk; 8 to 13, Southwell, Notts; 21 to 27, Mirfield, Yorks; and 28 to December 4, Birkley, Yorks. He asks us to say that he is fully engaged until the Conference, so that those who desire his services must fix some date after May, 1882.

ORPHANAGE. On Friday evening, September 30, the quarterly collectors' meeting was held at the Orphanage. After tea, the boys' dining-hall was quite crowded by an interested audience, who listened with apparent delight to "John Ploughman's description of the "Pictures" in his last new book. Mr. Catlin, of the Cow-cross Mission, who has obtained permission to reproduce the pictures for dissolving-view slides, exhibited them by the oxy-hydrogen lime-light. Two of the little girls recited in first-rate style, the boys and girls sang a few of their favourite pieces, and a pleasant evening was happily closed by the presentation of the prizes awarded to the children by the Committee of Council on Education, Science and Art Department. The collectors brought in about £120, in addition to which friends, who could not be present, sent about £50 before or after the meeting. To all our helpers we again say, "God bless you for what you have done, but please do not forget that our family will soon be nearly double its present size, and therefore will want twice as much support." We suffer

greatly from the remark, "Oh, Mr. Spurgeon can get plenty of money!' Alas! we should get none if all were as miserly as those who make this an excuse for refusing to help the orphans. How are we to get money except as the Lord moves his people to give? We are not surrounded by an army of rich folks who have nothing to do with their wealth. Far otherwise. Our funds come from helpers who are many of them generous to the full extent of their means. The Lord will always supply the needs of the poor orphans, and the students; but when people see a man bearing such a load of responsibility it is bad enough to refuse to help, and worse still coolly to say, "Oh, he'll manage it! He has plenty of friends."

Orphanage Bazaar.-The advertisement at the end of the magazine will show all our friends that we have had several additional promises of stalls since last month. The task is first to load them up, and then to unload them when the sale comes on. The

time is drawing near. Dear Mrs. Dilatory,

do look alive!

Mr. Bartlett reports that friends in Africa, America, Japan, and Jamaica are working for his stall. Messrs. Ward, Lock, and Co. have promised to send some books for sale: and in addition to the places mentioned under the head of "College," we have received promises of parcels from Blaenavon, Coalbrookdale, Gnosall, Lakenheath, Kennington Park, and Reigate. We should be specially delighted if some American friends would take up this work at once. There is very little time: but among the hundreds of thousands of our sermon-readers in the States surely something might be done.

SONG SERVICES.-These may be made a special means of grace. Let a choir of believers take either of Mr. Charlesworth's Song Services, and sing them through with pious feeling, and good must be the result. The seven "Services are to be bad of our publishers at 3d each, or in one volume, paper covers, 1s. ; cloth, extra gilt, 2s. 6d.; words of entire series, one penny. Burnham has also brought out, at 4d., a capital "Service," entitled "The Waldensian Exiles." Of course, if these are used as a mere concert for amusement, no good will come of them, but sung as unto the Lord, experience proves their value.

Mr.

COLPORTAGE. The General Secretary writes "The only note of importance this month is that some friends, anxious for the extension of the work, have made us some liberal offers, which, however, are conditional upon friends in the districts raising £40 a year. Thus, a gentleman, who will not allow his name to transpire, promises £50 if ten new districts are started in six months, while another offers to assist very generously to support a travelling agent, if a suitable man can be obtained, to visit districts and give information concerning the

work, and secure subscriptions towards supporting additional colporteurs.

"We are thankful for that whereunto we have attained, but for some time past have remained nearly stationary as to aggressive movements. We have 70 districts occupied, but what are these compared with the large number which need the work? Being unsectarian in its nature and operations, all Christians may unite in supporting a colporteur, and as the Association always helps the districts beyond the £40 subscribed by paying all expenses incurred beyond that sum, it is an economical form of Home Mission work which should be more widely adopted. It utilizes the press, the pulpit, and personal appeal, to make known the gospel. We shall be glad to receive new applications for the appointment of colporteurs to districts where £40 a year can be raised. Subscriptions to our general fund are also always needed."

Mr. D. M. Logan, who for a while attended some of the College classes, sends us the following interesting note concerning

Colportage in the Australian Colonies."Dear Mr. Spurgeon,-A year ago to-day, I was in London, the centre of civilization, of usefulness, and of religious effort. To-day I am in an out-of-the-way place in New South Wales, Australia, far from church or chapel, store, telegraph-office, or railway line. Í live, with my family, amongst rocky hills, and can only be reached by rugged and difficult tracks. We see but few travellers, for we are some distance from a main road, and yet in this remote situation we have been visited by a colporteur! Indefatigable man! he wasn't to be stopped by rocky creeks, nasty sidings, or up-hill roads. He had a mission to fulfil. He carried God's word and good books to dispose of, he had to speak of the love of God, and to tell of Jesus the Saviour, and the power of the Holy Spirit, and he was undeterred by any difficulty, and found his way here as he does to many other such wild retreats. We were astonished to see the colporteur's waggon approaching. We were delighted to see it well filled with a goodly stock neatly arranged in covered trays, so packed as to stand all the jolting and rough treatment of long and tedious journeys. We gave him a hearty reception, and bought some of his books. We purchased some copies of our old friend, "The British Workman,' in one of which I found a sketch of the Biblecarriage in the Mile End-road. It was very correctly drawn, and reminded me of old times, for I had had the privilege of selling Testaments, and preaching from it to the crowds that passed by on that great thoroughfare. When I tell you that the colporteur sold me a volume of 'The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit,' and Laws from Heaven for Life on Earth,' by Arnot, you may guess I was truly delighted, for I had lost every book that I possessed by being shipwrecked on my voyage to this

colony. We spent a profitable evening with him, and he left next day cheered and refreshed, I believe, as we also were by his. visit. He is one of several missionary colporteurs connected with the New South Wales Bush Mission, which is doing a good work in the interior of this large and lovely Island-Continent. "D. M. LOGAN.

"Moura, Bumbury, "via Molongo, N.S.W. "22nd July, 1881."

Mr. Logan himself holds a service every Sunday for the men on his farm, and gives them a 66 Reading" on Monday evenings from "John Ploughman's Pictures," and other "sound, improving, healthy, and amusing" literature. As he took his place almost in its natural condition, and now has about 4,500 sheep, beside cattle, to care for, he employs many labourers, and is glad to do all he can for their spiritual as well as temporal welfare.

PERSONAL NOTES.-A friend writes:

"I was last week attending the meetings of the Hants Congregational Union at Bournemouth, when a deacon of a neighbouring church related the following cheering story:- About seven years since a poor woman had saved up a few pounds of money, and was going into the town of Christchurch to purchase some things. By some means. she lost her purse, which contained a £5 note, £1 in gold, and some 14s. in silver. She was much distressed at her loss, and had some hand-bills circulated offering a reward for the restoration of her property. A person found the purse, and appropriated the whole of its contents, and nothing has been heard of the affair until a fortnight since, when a gentleman went to the printer of the handbill, and asked if he could remember the incident. On looking over his file he saw the bill, and the whole of the circumstances came to his mind. The gentleman then said, 'You must ask me no questions, but the purse will be restored.' A few days afterwards the identical purse, with the amount of money lost, and £3 for interest, was sent to the rightful owner. The cause which brought this about was reading Spurgeon's Sermons."

A brother in the Lord, who is also a colonel in the army, told us the other day that although he had Christian parents, and many religious privileges, he never knew the way of salvation until he read our sermon entitled, "The Way of Salvation," (No. 209.) in the little book form. He has since distributed hundreds of them to others. This is a hint to sowers as to what kind of seed they should sow.

During the past month we received an. interesting letter from a German Baptist Colporteur, in which he says that he has sold. many of our books, which have been a blessing to him, and to many who have bought them. He also mentions that the Empress of Germany has bought from him "Dew

Just after making up the "Notes" for last month's magazine we received the following touching letters :

"Dear Mr. Spurgeon, - The enclosed letter, which I write vorbatim, and the cheque for £40, are from my dear boy, who appears to be on the eve of departure to a better world. He has been greatly interested in making up all his little money matters to send you the proceeds. As you will suppose, he has been for some time taking an interest in your work for Christ, and one of the greatest enjoyments of his life was the hearing you preach one Sunday last spring. He has read your sermons, &c., for a long time, and distributed them among our poor neighbours. His life has been one of much suffering, chiefly from asthma; but now consumption is carrying him off, and he is lying in the most peaceful, tranquil state, waiting the Master's call.

If you will kindly acknowledge his letter yourself I should be so much obliged, as I know he is hoping for that pleasure. "I am, dear sir,

Yours very truly,

think best for Christ's work. I should very much like a few lines from you, with a few words of comfort to cheer me at the last. I am rejoiced to tell you that I know Christ has forgiven my sins, and I am longing to depart and be with him.

"I cannot say that I have ever felt overwhelmed with sin. I have always been an invalid, and my feeling is that Christ sought me out, and has been gently leading me along a quiet path out of the way of many of the sins and temptations of youth; therefore, all thanks be to him, I can claim no merit. He has so hedged in my way, that I have been kept from the desire after worldly things, and my heart is full of gratitude to him for all the way he has led me, and I bless him for the life of sickness which I feel now has been my safeguard.

"With my best love to you and Mrs. Spurgeon, "I am, yours affectionately,

Mrs. Darby..

Mr. and Mrs Penny

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Mrs. E. Hill...

Mr. John Begg

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