more painful. Now, however, that the conflict has ceased, we do not augur much good from Mr. Balme's bold and skilful analysis of impelling causes. It deserves a place in those times, but has no tendency to assuage the prejudices and animosities that remain, and to hasten the return of prosperity and peace. The Veil Lifted: or, the Romance and Reality of Convent Life. Morgan and Chase. "THEN said he unto me, Son of Man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. And he said unto me, go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here." Such is this book and its mission. It digs through the walls of Convents, and shows the abominations that are done here. It not only records facts of thrilling interest, and in pathetic and well-chosen terms, but clearly reveals that peculiar state of mind, and those Convent-life operates, and the fearful circumstances upon which the charm of reality that ensues. It should be in the hands of all who have the least reverence for the priesthood or the sisterhood of the Church of Rome. Notices. On Monday evening, September 25th, a Social Meeting was held for the twofold purpose of taking leave of the Rev. W. A. Blake, who has accepted the pastorate of the Church at New Brentford, and to welcome the Rev. J. O. Fellowes, late of Thaxted, as the future minister of Shouldham-street Chapel. The Rev. Josiah Redford, of Epsom, presided. The Chairman having opened the meeting by kind and appropriate remarks, the Rev. W. A. Blake stated that he had been their pastor twenty years. When he came to Shouldhamstreet the chapel was dilapidated, and the congregation very small. For twenty years peace had been within their walls. A Church, distinguished for unity, had there worshipped; the chapel had been considerably altered and improved, and excellent and commodious school-rooms furnished underneath the chapel. Mr. Blake alluded to his onerous duties in connection with the "Soldiers' Friend Society," the care of the three Ragged Schools, in or near that locality, and other considerations, which led him to conclude that it was his duty to listen to the request of the Church at Brentford; and therefore, after much prayer and consideration, he had felt it his duty to resign his charge, and was happy to recommend Mr. Fellowes as his successor. Mr. Fellowes then made a statement of his early connection with the City Missions and "Soldiers' Friend Society" in the Crimea; his work as the District Missionary for the Scotch Church, Regent-square, under Dr. Hamilton; his pastorate for three years at Thaxted; and his recent acceptance of the unanimous invitation of the Church then assembling to become their pastor. Dr. Burns, pastor of the Baptist Chapel, Church-street, Paddington, followed with a few remarks. At this stage of the proceedings, the chairman intimated that a testimonial of the attachment of many to Mr. Blake having been subscribed for, one of the deacons would present it. Accordingly Mr. Capps, in a short, but most appropriate and affectionate address, made the presentation of a handsome silver tea-pot, as a token of continued Christian esteem from Mr. and Mrs. Goulden; a silver milk ewer from Mrs. Pilgrim and Miss Jerrad; and a basket containing silver forks from the members of the Church, etc., etc. Other addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. Batey, the assistant afternoonpreacher at Craven Chapel; by the Rev. W. Stott, of Abbey-road Chapel, St. John's Wood, Mr. Beazley, and Mr. Pearce. On the first Sabbath in September, there were gathered together on the banks of the river Cam, near Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, about two thousand people, to witness the ceremony of Believers' Baptism. This is the fourth baptism during the sixteen months of Mr. Neale's pastorate. The number immersed is thirty-eight, and the total additions to the Church forty-six. "To God," Mr. Neale writes, "be all the glory, who has so graciously revived us, and caused us to rejoice in his salvation, and who is still in our midst, blessing, comforting, strengthening, sanctifying, and saving his people. Some of our friends think we are going too fast; my reply to this is, that as a denomination, we have not the character for going very fast, would that we had; therefore, as a Church of that denomination, we should like to set an humble example of going a little faster to visit the sick, relieve the poor, instruct the ignorant, comfort the feeble minded, strengthen the weak, weep over the perishing, and forget not the aged, the fatherless, and the widow, and last, but not least, preach the gospe to every creature." On Friday, the 13th of October, the Quarterly Tea Meeting in connection with the College was held in the rooms of the Metropolitan Tabernacle. A public meeting was afterwards held in the Tabernacle, which was numerously attended. Mr. Spurgeon gave an account of the progress of the College during the last quarter, and of the settlement of several of the students during that period. Mr. James Spurgeon spoke of the consultation of ministers upon the subject of collegiate training during that week in Birmingham. Mr. Landels, of Regent's Park Chapel, then gave an eloquent lecture upon "Beginning Life," which gained great applause, and what is far better, could not fail to produce a profitable and lasting impression. In February last, Mr. Lennie, formerly a student at Mr. Spurgeon's College, was settled over the Church, assembling in the Baptist Chapel, at Downham Market, Norfolk. The existing necessity for improvements upon the Chapel, and the erection of a new school-room and vestries for the accommodation of the children and other purposes, induced Mr. Lennie to solicit the assistance of the Church and congregation in the matter. This was readily granted, and subscriptions were promised, which encouraged the Church to make the proposed improvements, which are now completed. On Lord's-day, September 10th, the Rev. J. Rossiter, a student from Mr. Spurgeon's College, preached the re-opening sermons, on the morning and evening of the day, to large and attentive congregations. On the following Monday evening about one hundred and eighty friends took tea in the new school-room. The trays were kindly furnished by the ladies and other friends of the cause. After tea a goodly number assembled in the chapel, where a public meeting was held, presided over by the Rev. G. Gould, of. Norwich. After the chairman's appropriate and able speech, addresses were delivered on suitable subjects by the Revs. J. Keed, of Cambridge; H. W. Lambert, of Lynn; J. Rossiter, and the pastor of the Church. The amount realised by the collections and the proceeds o. the tea was about £16, which, added to tormer subscriptions, makes a sum o £127, towards a cost of about £270. Additional subscriptions to the amount of £36, were promised to be paid within six months. Toward the liquidation of the remaining debt of £107, the pastor will be glad to receive contributions. This is a cause well deserving the support of the Christian public, and of the Baptist body in particular. Mr. Lennie is a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth; and the Church at Downham Market has already greatly revived under his ministrations. On Tuesday, August 29th, a Tea Meeting was held in Dockhead Chapel, Bermondsey, when about one hundred and sixty friends sat down to tea, after which a Public Meeting was held, when about two hundred and fifty friends were present. T. W. Hackett, Esq., of the Tabernacle, took the Chair. Mr. C. F. Styes, who has laboured there during the past nine months, gave an interesting and encouraging address in relation to what the Lord had done among them. Animated Addresses were then given by Mr. A. G. Brown, of Bromley; and Mr. Murphy, of the Pastor's College. This cause is young and feeble, and has much to contend with in this part of London; but the word has been blesssd to the conversion of souls. Mr. W. Cuff, of the Pastor's College, has received a unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the Baptist Church at Ridgmount, Bedfordshire. For the past three months Mr. Cuff's labours there have been accompanied with a blessing. The chapel is crowded at each time, and souls are being saved. He enters upon his labours with every prospect of great usefulness. On Monday, October 2nd, a Tea Meeting was held to aid the funds of the British School, in connection with the above chapel, at which, about two hundred and fifty friends sat down. After tea, a public meeting was held, and the chapel was crowded to excess. The Rev. J. Owen, of Cranfield, presided. Mr. Walker, Mr. Minett, and Mr. Inglis, formerly of the Pastor's College; Mr. J. Andrews, of Woburn; Mr. J. Knight, of Ridgmount; and Mr. Clarke, of Luton, addressed the meeting. During the last quarter, many of the Students have entered permanently, or for a season, upon promising spheres of labor. The demand for their services still exceeds the supply. On this and some other accounts, the number of Students is somewhat less than during the last quarter. The variety of their gifts and qualifications are found to be remarkably adapted to the diversity of spheres in which their assistance is required, and the hand of God is gratefully acknowledged in the selection of the right men for the right places. To the acceptableness of their services communications are frequently received, and seldom have they been called to minister at any place, even for a short season, without instances of direct usefulness. Those who were first settled, for the most part, have retained their positions, and have been increasingly blessed in them. For this we thank God and take courage. Pastor's College, Metropolitan Tabernacle. PRESIDENT-C. H. SPURGEON.-NUMBER OF STUDENTS, 93. Amount required for Students during the year, about £5000; the rest will be devoted to building Places of Worship. Mrs. Tyson Statement of Receipts from September 19th, to October 18th, 1865. Collection at George Street, Hull, after Sermon by C. H. Spurgeon Bucklesbury Chapel, per Mr. Carpenter Mr. T. Petford Proceeds of Lecture in Glasgow, per T. W. Medhurst Mr. Johnson Harle A Friend, Lennoxtown 50 0 0 1 0 0 A Friend at Stroud Redruth 030 026 0 15 100 0 10 0 Mrs. Sims 500 Mrs. Anstie .. 800 20 0 0 L. C. 020 026 100 Mr. J. Craddock 050 0 12 6 Weekly Offerings at Tabernacle, Sep. 25 30 9 10 100 Oct. 2 28 7 8 1 0 0 16 25 4 7 Subscriptions will be thankfully received by C. H. Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. T is supposed by some that Phoebe was not only a servant of the Church in the sense which all are who render the Church service, or who perform the Church's work; but a servant officially, or a deaconess, such being the English form of the word diakovov by which she is here designated. It would involve a discussion too lengthened for our limits, and somewhat foreign to our purpose, did we enter into the question of whether or not there were such a class of officials in the early Church. Be the answer to this question what it may, it seems to me, on the one hand, quite in keeping with the principles of the New Testament that women should be appointed to serve the Church in an official capacity, and specially set apart by the Church to a specific work; while, on the other hand, it does not seem necessary that they should wait for such an official appointment or recognition before they do the work for which their capacity fits them. As every member of the Church is not only at liberty but under obligation to work for Christ, each female member may become really, if not officially, a servant of the Church by doing the work, subject, of course, to the approval of the Church, for which she feels herself fitted and called. Having said this much, so as to prevent our future remarks being weakened from appearing to rest on what some might consider a groundless assumption, we may now express our belief that Phoebe was officially "a servant of the Church at Cenchrea," one of an order of deaconesses which then existed, and is now being revived in some of the sections of the Church of Christ. Such an order, we may further say, we regard as eminently qualified for usefulness, and as fitted to render a very important service, and to supply a want which has frequently been felt. The advantage to be derived from it is not that the obligation to activity would be increased, but that specific work would be appropriated * From "Lessons for Maidens, Wives, and Mothers." See Reviews last month. to individual workers who would hold themselves responsible for its performance. It is a trite, but not less a true saying, that what is every one's business is practically no one's. Individuals fail to realize their responsibility for that which devolves upon a community; and the work which every one ought to do is often neglected or tardily accomplished, because sometimes from delicacy, and sometimes, it may be, from indolence, it is overlooked or shirked by each; whereas a division and specific appropriation of labour, removing all occasion for delicacy on the one hand, and all pretext for indolence on the other, secures that through individual activity the general work shall be more promptly and efficiently done. Another advantage would be the confidence and encouragement which the worker would derive from the assurance that she enjoyed the approval and countenance of the Church. Sometimes sensitive natures shrink from work lest they should be taking it from others who are better qualified for it; sometimes they shrink from it lest they should be thought too forward and incur unmerited censure on that account. Often-times those who are not deterred by any such motives, are discouraged by the thought that they are left to labour alone without the sympathy or the recognition of their Christian friends. And we can readily understand how these hindrances to activity would be removed, did an official appointment give them the assurance that they performed their duties by the desire and with the approval of the Church. Such a commendation as Paul gives to Phoebe in this letter -albeit she did not know how it would hand her name down to posterity, and secure her a place in the annals of the Church-would no doubt tend greatly to encourage her under the difficulties and trials and temptations to weariness in well-doing with which she was frequently or occasionally beset. And I cannot but think that good might be done if commendation were more frequently and cordially given to our workers now. If we are not yet prepared to appoint women to office, and to commend them openly when its duties have been efficiently performed, we might at least see to it, that, instead of attributing unworthy motives, and severely criticising measures, and harshly censuring failures, and enviously undervaluing success, as is too frequently the case, we cherished only admiration for, and rewarded with no stinted praise, the godly women who to the best of their ability are labouring to do Christ's work. We admire the apostle, who, when burdened with the care of all the Churches, and after writing such a profoundly thoughtful letter on the great doctrines of the Christian faith, shows such a loving remembrance, and speaks such kind words, of the sister who in her own way is furthering the same great cause. Let us learn to imitate while we admire; bearing on our affections, and commending by our speech, the earnest and faithful sisters who are doing their best for the furtherance of the cause of Christ. We have only to say, further, of the appointment of women to office in the Church, that, of course, it does not interfere with, or require their severance from, woman's ordinary relations and pursuits. If it did we should have good reason for demurring to such an arrangement. It is one of the worst libels on religion to suppose that it is, or to make it appear, incompatible with the ordinary duties of life. If women can |