ECCLESIASTICAL

REGISTER.

ST. PAUL'S, BROUGHTON, MANCHESTER. Since the sudden death of the Rev. Mr. Yeates, the services have been conducted by the friends in connexion with this church, and have gradually resumed their former character, except the absence of our ordained leader. A good working committee has been elected, with churchwardens and secretary, and Mr. Knott as chairman; and it is hoped that the undertaking may speedily be put on a right footing financially to justify at least the school portion of the new building being proceeded with. On Sunday last, 4th December, the full choral services were very efficiently rendered by the choir, led by Mr. Bartlett, the organist. The prayers were read by Mr. Malan Walker, and Mr. Hardie gave an impressive discourse from 2 Thes. iii, 1-" Finally, brethren, pray for us. In the evening, there was a good full congregation, and much sympathy was manifested for the Misses Yeates, who were present. Prayers were read by Mr. Walker, and the lessons by Mr. Knott, after which Mr. Swindells preached a very practical sermon from Acts xvii. 23-"The Apostle Paul at Athens." The services altogether were powerfully devotional and impressive, and were a remarkable example of what may be done by laymen when necessity calls for their help, and men of the right spirit are ready to give it. The Free Church of England movement is essentially one by and for the people, and is destined, no doubt, to preserve the spiritual purity of our liturgy, which so many temporizing clergy are seeking to destroy. Manchester is a wide and most difficult field in which to plant the principle, but where the need of it is so great, that two hundred small buildings in the neglected, or unreached, or "aggrieved" districts, would not be too much to meet the want; but when once Manchester takes hold of it, all the help that may now be afforded by influential friends will be abundantly recompensed.

ULVERSTONE, LANCASHIRE.—On Wednesday evening, December 14th, a party was held in the Temperance Hall, in aid of the funds subscribed towards erecting a "New Free Church" in this town. About 500 sat down to tea; after which the public meeting was held, over which Mr. T. T. Briggs presided, who said, they met that evening to ask aid and support by their influence and prayers for their friend, Mr. Troughton, who was seeking to erect a new church. He wished that before they left they would have instilled into each of them such an amount of zeal and enthusiasm as would cause them to double their exertions and also double their subscriptions. The principal speakers were the Revs. T. Taylor, Dr. Shaw,'and E. Abraham, with Messrs. Long and Bond. The meeting was greatly enlivened by several recitations, and a selection of vocal and instrumental music.

KIDDERMINSTER.—JUBILEE OF THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S CHURCH.-On Tuesday, December 13th, the Jubilee of the above church was celebrated, on which occasion T. Lea, Esq., M.P., presided, and a large congregation assembled in the Music-hall, where suitable addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. T. Horton, of Wolverhampton, and the Rev. T. Dodd, of Worcester. The Rev. Ira Bosely (the present minister) read an interesting paper, giving a brief history of the church and congregation, and of the several ministers who had been pastors during the past fifty years. As the church is being restored at a considerable cost, a bazaar and soirée were held in aid of the funds. Special references were made in the report to the Rev. W. H. Hines, now of Basingstoke, who had been instrumental in the erection of large and handsome school and lecture-rooms, at a cost of 8007., and whose ministry had extended over thirty years. The Rev. Ira Bosely was appointed in May last, and is labouring with every prospect of success. It is hoped the church, which is being completely renovated, will be re-opened in February next, on which occasion, we under

stand, the Rev. W. H. Hines will be invited to preach. During the evening appropriate solos were played on the fine organ by Mr. Blundell, and also by Miss Humphries on the piano, assisted by Dr. Marshall and Mrs. Glover. At the conclusion, the thanks of the meeting were awarded to the ladies (who had kindly presented the trays, and also to those who had superintended the sale of useful articles; the produce of which amounted to about FORTY POUNDS.

MOLD, FLINTSHIRE.—In our November Magazine we spoke of the lecturing tour for the Education Society, by the Rev. J. S. Hill. On Thursday, November 10th, he visited Mold, and his lecture seems to have been turned to good account, by the friends there making it the first of a monthly series to be given during the winter. We commend this example to others. The Wrexham Advertiser, of the 12th, gives a full report of the proceedings, and from it we take the following extract :

"A NIGHT WITH THE WORTHY, THE WITTY, THE WISE.'-The above was the subject of a very interesting lecture delivered by the Rev. S. Hill, at the Congregational Free Church on Thursday. It was the first of a series of 'Popular Lectures,' and if there is any truth in the saying, 'Coming events cast their shadows before,' we may safely predict that these lectures will be really popular, as the church was completely filled with an audience of both church and chapel people, whilst the platform was occupied by the energetic young minister, the Rev. D. B. Hooke, the Rev. S. Hill, the Rev. R. Edwards, and J. Forrest, Esq. The chair was taken by the Rev. Roger Edwards, one of the leading ministers of the Welsh Presbyterian body, who, in the course of his opening remarks, said-'I feel the minister and members of this church should be thanked and encouraged for their efforts to provide the people of Mold with this means of instruction and entertainment. I consider that in meeting as we have done this evening, we do not meet to enjoy amusement alone-that would be too low for people who called themselves reasonable creatures—but to receive instruction that may be of great value to us. We all know the condition into which France has been reduced as a nation, and we know that her people were for ever attending to amusements and all sorts of enjoyments-in fact, casting everything serious far from them; whilst the Germans were men of thought, and not only that, but the bravest men in the day of battle. As for the lectures we are about to enjoy in this church, they are capable of doing us lasting good-they will benefit us alike in winter and summer-and if we appreciate them rightly, they will be a provision for the mind as well as pleasure for the heart.' The Rev. J. S. Hill then delivered his lecture, and said that he should bring before the notice of his hearers four worthies who were both witty and wise, and although they might be old pictures, they would be none the worse for that. The first was Hugh Latimer, who in his early life was as bigotted a Papist as ever breathed, but who afterwards became the ablest champion of Protestautism. He was 53 years of age when he abandoned Popery, but when he did so he did it with a vengeance. A Reformer of such a decided character, Latimer could not have expected anything but persecution, and it was clear that he didn't. When passing Smithfield on his way to Queen Mary's Court, he said, 'Smith has long groaned for me,' and¡when, with Ridley and Cranmer, he was tied to the faggot, he joyously proclaimed, 'We shall this day light such a candle in England as shall never be put out.' The next was Thomas Fuller, who was called by Coleridge an incomparably sensible and great man. He lived in the time of Charles I., and was a man of great Puritanical tendencies. He had a prodigious memory, and it was said he could repeat 500 strange words after once hearing them, and make use of a sermon verbatim. Under the same circumstances he was said to be able to name in their proper order every sign on each side of the streets from the top of Paternoster-row to the bottom of Cheapside. On one occasion the authorities of the City resolved to test these

reports, when Fuller said, 'It is true, fame has given me the credit of having a memory; will you give me an opportunity of making an experiment of it?' They acceded, and Fuller said to them, 'Your worships, I have a friend who has a large family of children, but who has been taken to prison. If you will release him and restore him to his living, I will never forget you as long as I live.' The speaker next referred to Rowland Hill and T. Dawson, reproducing many of their quaint sayings and eulogising their high characters and ready wit. In conclusion he urged his audience to lead a religious life, ridiculing the notion that religion was intended to lessen their pleasures.

'Tis religion that can bring

Sweetest pleasure while we live,

as well as when we die; and if those were their sentiments, he would entreat them, as his last word, to act upon them, and recommend them to others. Short addresses were then delivered by the Rev. D. B. Hooke and Mr. Forrest, the former of whom notified the receipt of a very kind and encouraging letter from Lord Ebury, who would have been with them had the state of his health permitted. During the evening, the Free Church choir sang several anthems, and at the close a collection was made, the proceeds of which (after paying expenses) were divided between the Education Society and the Free Church Bazaar Fund. "

A TRIBUTE TO F. W. WILLCOCKS, ESQ.

On Wednesday evening, the 21st ult., on the invitation of the Committee of the Spa Fields School, about thirty gentlemen sat down to a very elegant and sumptuous dinner in Spa Fields' Parsonage, to congratulate F. W. Willcocks, Esq., on his appointment to certain Trusts in connexion with her Ladyship's chapels and other property.

The Rev. T. E. Thoresby occupied the chair, and presided over the festivities and engagements of the evening, with equal urbanity and ability. He was supported on the right by the Rev. J. Maguire, M. A., Vicar of St. James', Clerkenwell, and the Rev. J. Figgis, M. A., of Brighton, and on the left by F. W. Willcocks, Esq., the Rev. G. Jones, of Tunbridge Wells, and the Rev. R. Ferguson, LL.D., of London. The company included gentlemen who not only represented the Connexion, but various sections of the Christian Church, and the intelligence of the parish at large.

Several eloquent and powerful addresses were delivered prior to the presentation of the Resolution of Congratulation, and on receiving which Mr. Willcocks delighted the meeting by the expression of his manly thought and feeling.

We have no doubt that he will make himself felt in the position which he is now called to fill. May God give him grace and strength equal to his day!

CONTRIBUTIONS, COLLECTIONS, AND SUBSCRIPTIONS.

COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY FOR THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL AT HOME AND ABROAD.

Contributions, &c., to be sent to the Treasurer, MR. FREDERICK WM. WILLCOCKS, 1, Myddelton Villas, Lloyd Square, London, W.C.

THE FREE CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE.

On the Use of Parables.

In the earlier ages of the world, when the art of reasoning was little known, and the human intellect was but seldom disciplined to severe thought and continued argument, the use of parables was one of the most frequent and favourite modes of instruction. Nor can we well conceive of a more powerful vehicle for communicating instruction and impression to the mind. Adopting some object in nature to illustrate and enforce what is spiritual, the parable lays hold of the imagination, and, the feelings being awakened through the medium of the senses, insinuates itself into the affections, and through the fancy reaches the understanding. It exhibits the most important truth in a manner truly pleasing and agreeable, and yet with such force and conviction as to render it next to irresistible. It seizes the mind by surprise, and holds it as by an invincible power, till reason has bowed to the majesty of truth, and the judgment, as the presiding faculty of the soul, has given its decision in favour of the doctrine advanced.

It can be no wonder, then, that our blessed Lord should, in the course of His ministry, have so frequently adopted this mode of instruction. He was surrounded by those, all the feelings of whose hearts were directly opposed to the holy lessons He came to inculcate-men of strong prejudices and passions-men who entertained high thoughts of themselves, of their own moral character and relations, and to whom the doctrines of Christianity were far from being either welcome or acceptable. But being intimately acquainted with all the windings and workings of the human mind, and anxious rather to conciliate than to irritate and alienate the feelings, He wisely availed Himself of that mode of address which was almost sure to engage attention, and which, without giving any alarm to men's passions and prejudices, tended rather to disclose and open the doctrine which it professed to veil and conceal. Had not Christ so acted -had He despised this ancient and favourite vehicle of instruction—had He clothed the great truths which He came to announce in no such drapery, but stated them abstractedly or enforced them by argumentation—it is a thousand to one if the minds of those to whom they were addressed had not at once revolted and spurned them away in proud disdain. But,