A Meditation. "A Solitary Way."-Ps. cvii, 4. "Lo, I am with you alway."-Matt. xxviii, 20. Within each heart a mystery's conceal'd, Which cannot to another be reveal'd :Amidst a crowd of strangers by the way, : Or friends, best known, best lov'd :-by night or day, There comes to us a feeling-" I'm alone; My joy or bitterness of soul, by none Is understood; and none can tell what I -V. Thobis, 18,486. PUBLIC WORSHIP. Some go to church and chapel for a walk, Some to stare, and laugh, and talk! Some go there to meet a friend, Some their idle time to spend ; Some for general observation, Some for private speculation; Some to seek or find a lover, Some a courtship to discover; Some go there to use their eyes, And newest fashions criticise; That friends at home they may amuse ; Some amusement to pursue ; Some on the parson go to fawn ; Some to claim the parish doles ; His style and voice to praise or jeer ; -J. C., Eccles, Lancashire. POLITICAL SERMONS.-I have preached what have been called political sermons. I have done this on principle and would not recall one if I could. I have tried to show the application of Bible truths to national affairs. I believe that piety and patriotism are indissolubly joined. The same divine injunction that bids us fear God also bids us to honor the King. We are commanded of God to pray for kings and all in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty. It is the duty of Christian ministers in the churches to teach the people obedience to the laws of the land. Ministers and judges are to be a terror to evil-doers and a praise to them that do well. These distinctions are to be kept prominent before the public mind.—Rev. J. B. Silcox. REPLIES TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c. [Our Replies &c., are given in good faith, but we do not accept the responsibility of their legal accuracy or otherwise.] Women equal to Men.-Remember Horace Greeley's words: Whether woman is equal to man depends upon who is the woman and who is the man. Hull.--Your account is sad. "Protestantism is dying here. The parsons are unhealthy in doctrine, and an indifference is permeating the numerous congregations." Anglican. -When we hear of people watching our Reformed Church work with interest," we think of a sporting man looking at a horse, or a woman examining a piece of fancy work, Our work is either right or wrong, and should be either helped or hindered. The inhabitants of Meroz still exist (Judges v, 26). " Cardinal Newman.-We understand that during his recent visit to London Cardinal Newman was the guest of Dean Church, of St. Paul's. Kindred Spirits. South Brisbane.-We pity Protestant Churchmen in St. Andrew's, South Brisbane. The Rev. N. Dawes, their new incumbent, is extreme as a Romanizing Ritualist. English Church Union. To use the words of the English Churchman, the E.C.U. is "a society officially pledged to labour for the re-union of the Church of England with the Church of Rome." High Church. The terms High Church" and "Low Church" refer to the estimate per se in which the sacraments ex opere operato are held by these respective parties. Ireland. We learn from a priest's letter in the Romish Tablet that "the health of the Queen is now never proposed at the Mansion House dinners in Dublin, or at Nationalist gatherings. The prayer for the Queen hitherto commanded to be said before Mass in all the churches and chapels of Ireland, on Sundays and holy days of obligation, has, by authority, been withdrawn from the last edition of those prayers." "Rome-rule. means, but we Home Rule.-We do not know what "Home Rule " We can heartily say strongly suspect that it means "God save Ireland." Stroud Green.-The Church Association cannot supply you with Protestant church services; and these are what you need. It is terrible to Toxteth Park.-Poor Liverpool is on the sliding scale. think what strides the Church of England has made there towards Rome since Bishop Ryle's appointment. He is fond of “defying people to prove this or that; and we can now say tu quoque. We defy Bishop Ryle to prove that our assertion is not true; and his part in reference to the Natal Bishopric has given the deepest pain to Protestant Churchpeople. High Birth.-Quite true. But remember "Honours best thrive, When from our acts we them derive Than our foregoers." Over-worked. Your words remind us of the following Epitaph: Deans "What are their duties in the Established Church?" We can only reply in the words of Sydney Smith, "To the best of my knowledge, the duty of the dean is to give dinners to the chapter, and the duty of the chapter is to give dinners to the dean." The Anglican Crusade.—This is perhaps the most out-spoken PropaIt is only just ganda of Anglican Romanism which we have seen. And of all places on earth, it emanates from published (1886). Bishop Ryles's diocese, and from that part of it which, in Dr. McNeile's day, was known as Protestant Liverpool! of course "The Anglican Crusade" is to maintain "Constitutional "Constitutional Principles " (which we once Principles!" In fact thought meant the Protestant Constitution of this realm) now mean, in the minds of many, full blown Popery, whether its dress be fashioned in Rome or Lambeth. As a matter South Africa.-What a sad state of affairs must exist when "Two of the parishioners of St. Peter's Cathedral, Pieturmaritzburg - Sir T. Shepstone and Mr.. Egner-have (had to, and have) intervened to prevent the Sheriff's officer from selling the church seats for debt ?" We thank you for the papers. Moosomin.-We are not surprised to learn that "there has been a great falling off in the attendance at public worship" at the Church of England (at the Church of St. Alban the Martyr), when we know the character of the teaching therein given. Protestant Churchmen will not have Popery, whether Roman or Anglican. Why not organize a Reformed Church of England? North West Territory.-We quite think with you that there are a great many Conservative and Protestant Churchpeople in Canada, who will not accept the very radical changes made in the Canadian Revised Prayer Book. You are not the first to ask us to come over and help, but our work lies in England. Montreal.-We deeply regret that the Protestant Pillar (in its March Southend. We think that the letter of " Puzzled" will be helpful to The Vaudois.--The terms Vaudois in French, Vallenses in Latin, men "What are the Wild Waves saying" (London: Partridge). These devout reflections by the Rev. W. Frith, are simple, scriptural, and instructive. Mr. Frith tells us herein what the waves said to him, and other thoughtful Christians will find in these words food for thought and sentiments to cheer. Dogmatic. Do not forget the lines: "Stiff in opinion, often in the wrong, The Church in Danger.-An admirable lecture by Handel Cossham, Portsmouth. The report of the proceedings at the opening of the Medical Temperance Journal (London: 337, Strand, W.C.).—An im- Monthly Tract Society.-This excellent society's present address is Church Union Gazette (Office of E. C. U.)-While we regard the Rector. We think that you are wise in "fighting shy" of the person Christian Echo (Plymouth: Trythall). An interesting record of the Deed of Covenant.-The stamp required for our Deed of Covenant is Churchwardens, &c.-Churchwardens, &c., are not canonically authorized to act in their respective offices until they have been duly admitted. J.C., Eccles. We feel much obliged for your valued help. So Busy. Yes, it's a busy age, but remember brave Sir Jacob Astley's words when entering battle (1642) "O Lord, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day. If I forget Thee, do not Thou forget me. March on, boys." The Lake District (Windermere: Garnett). A charming illustrated THE Advertisements. Now Ready, Price 2s. 6d. II E understand that term, neither has it a complete Revised Prayer TI Book. Its monthly publication has for some time ceased to exist. Evangelical Protestant Union.-In reading the last quarterly report (now before us) of the Evangelical Protestant Union, we find a chord within us vibrating in sympathy with much that is therein expressed. The members of this excellent body evidently think very much as we do; and when Disestablishment takes place, we shall probably find ourselves in the same ecclesiastical vessel. This Union has our heartiest good wishes, and we trust that its members may have the most complete success in its work. The Hon. Sec. (to whose valued courtesy we are indebed for a copy of the report) is the Rev. J. B. Waddington, Vicar of Low Moor, Clitheroe, Lancashire. A Protestant, Clapham Rise.-The Reformed Church of England is not a secession from the Free Church of England, but is the only truly Protestant Episcopal Branch of the Church of England, and differs essentially from the F.C.E., as to Episcopacy and other matters. The Senior Bishop of our Church was for years a Vicar in the Established Church, to which, so far as we know, none of the ministers of the F.C.E. ever, as such, belonged. We had never before heard of the "Cyclopedia" which you name. If all its other information be as unreliable as that which you mention, we fear that it is not worth much. We thank you for calling our attention to this matter. Crockford's Directory.-This publication is in no true sense official or authoritative. So far as we know, it is simply a private adventure, and to our own personal knowledge, it is not always accurate, or trustworthy. Balham. We have no knowledge of the matter. REVISED Revised Church Catechism.. YMNS O I SERVICE OF THE KING. The Authorised Hymnal of the Reformed Church of England. CHILDREN'S HYMNS, 3 d. ; 6 d. ; Price Is. 6d, 2s., and upwards. MISSION HYMNS, 2d.; 6d. TUNES for Mission Hymns, 1s. and 2s. I s. This Book deserves to succeed and we hope it will do so.-The Record. In every way worthy of the title.-Protestant Pillar. A pure Hymnal We trust it will have a great sale.-Protestant Standard. A truly Evangelical compilation.-Voice of Warning. London: E. Marlborough and Co., 51, Old Bailey, C.E. BISHOP GREGG'S PUBLICATIONS. Bible Questions 3d. Archbishops Two Black Cats 2d. RECEIVED WITH THANKS.-The Belfast Weekly News, March 13, Hundreds of thousa...us of the above publications have been already sold. REFORMED CHURCH OF ENGLAND. HE OFFICIAL STATEMENT of the Reformed Church of Common Prayer, may be had by sending a stamped and addressed envelope to Mr. F. T. GREGG, T.C.D., Southend, Essex. THE REFORMED CHURCH RECORD. March, 1886-Prospectus, Tower House Retreat, &c., Westgate "The Tractarians of 1833 onwards learned their belief through the Church of England in her Prayer Book, and consequently while the Prayer Book remains untouched, Tractarianism i.e the belief expressed in the Tracts and continued to be taught, cannot be shaken."-Extract from a Letter from Dr. Pusey to Bishop Gregg, D.D., under date 8th Feb. 1882. THE REVISED BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. This is the only authorised Prayer Book of the Reformed Episcopal Church in the United Kingdom, and its use is enjoined in all congregations having canonical union with the said Church. It is undoubtedly the best revision of the Book of Common Prayer ever published. It has been pronounced even by the Right Hon. LORD EBURY as an improvement on (and is cheaper than) that issued by the Prayer Book Revision Society. London: E. Marlborough and Co., 51, Old Bailey, E.C Printed for the Standing Committee of the Reformed Episcopal Church in the United Kingdom, otherwise called the Reformed Church of England, at The Examiner Offices, Warrington. London Publishers, Messrs. E. Marlborough and Co., 51, Old Bailey, E.C. THE Reformed Church Record, THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, OTHERWISE CALLED The Reformed Church of England. MOTTO-Jesus only-The One Mediator-The only Priest-The sole Sacrifice. OUTHEND. SOUTHE - Church News. (Trinity Church.) On Easter Day 120 communicants met here around the Lord's Table. Our annual congregational meeting was held on Tuesday the 4th ult., at 7-30 p.m The following Church officers were duly appointed :-Deputies to General Synod: M -srs. T. M. Eastwood, J. C. Ingram, and T. Tully. Churchwardens: Messrs. J. C. Ingram and C. Webb. Sidesmen: Messrs. F. Belcham, T. M. Eastwood, I. King, and J. Partner. Vestrymen: Messrs. F. Belcham, A. Cotgrove, T. M. Eastwood, J. Going, A. Holmes, J. C. Ingram, I. Our Annual Sale of Work will (D.V.) be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, August 10, 11, and 12, 1886, and will as usual be conducted without raffles, lotteries, or other illegal and objectionable practices. Articles for the sale will be thankfully received by, and may be sent to Mrs. Gregg, 8, Park Villas, Southend, Essex. Owing to the growth of the Christian Medical Mission (there have been already over 3000 cases since January, 1885), the Council have decided to build a new Mission House, and for this purpose have purchased a freehold site Contributions towards the in Clarence Road, Southend. Building Fund may be sent to the Treasurer, T. M. Eastwood, Esq., 10, Prittlewell Square, Southend, Essex. The Unpledged Abstainers' Union, having erected a drinking fountain in Southend, we are glad to find that their example is about to be followed by the L. T. and S. Railway Company, who have decided to erect two, i.e., one on each side of the railway station. A Sermon to Chidren is preached in our Church on the first Sunday morning in each month; a Children's Service is held on the third Sunday afternoon monthly; and a Ser LEADING ARTICLES: THE CHURCH TIMES. THE CHURCH ASSOCIATION. ANGLICANISM ROMANISM AND RITUALISM. mon to Young Men is preached on the fourth Sunday in each month. On Sunday evening, the 23rd ult, the subject of Bishop Gregg's sermon was "Ireland's difficulties, England's danger, as seen in the light of history." The monthly meeting of the Unpledged Abstainers' Union was held in our larger Vestry Room on Tuesday, the 11th ult. Mr. Hawtree presided. Some new members were admitted, and a pleasant evening was spent. It was decided to resume the meetings in October when the winter session will (D.V.) be opened by a Tea and "Social." We had the last of our Choir "Socials" (for the season) on the 21st ult. After tea the evening was enjoyably spent amidst the sounds of music, vocal and instrumental. PRITTLEWELL.-(Christ Church.)—The quarterly meeting of our Committee was held on the 5th ult., when after passing the usual accounts, a hearty vote of thanks was unanimously passed to our kind friend, Mr. Churchwarden Webb, for the use of his harmonium; and it was decided to take steps towards procuring an American Organ for use at our services here. It is interesting to note that Mr. J. R. Hemmann, who joined Mr. J. G. Glen in the suit GLEN v. GREGG (to eject Bishop Gregg from Trinity Church and failed in the attempt), has been appointed churchwarden of Prittlewell by the Vicar, who signed the Declaration in favour of the Eastward Position; another in favour of Romish Vestments; and was a member of the English Church Union. HEMEL HEMPSTEAD (Christ Church).-At the annual meeting held on Easter Tuesday the following gentlemen were nominated or elected to their respective offices. Churchwardens: Mr. J. R. Mayfield (Rector's), Mr. C. J. Austin (People's.) Vestrymen: Messrs. C. J. Austin, A. Dell, K. French, W. Gadsden, H. Killeen, T. Lovelock, C. Lovelock, J. R. Mayfield, G. Rolph, J. Wellings. Deputies: Messrs. J. R. Mayfield and L. A. Cannon. ECCLES. (Trinity Church.) The following gentlemen have been nominated and have kindly consented to act as Trustees for our land and Church. The Right Rev. Bishop Gregg, D.D., The Rev. W. Mules, Messrs. T. D. Pritchard, D. Madeley, J. A. James, and Parry. On Tuesday, March 9th, the Choir and a few friends who have very kindly assisted us at various times, were entertained at Tea by the Rev. W. Mules, and afterwards enjoyably entertained themselves with music, &c. There were about 40 present. On April 28th was held our first Annual General Meeting. The financial statement (which had been audited by Mr. James Barlow) was considered satisfactory. The following Church officers were elected:-Churchwardens: Mr. J. A. James and Mr. T. Heywood. Sidesmen: Mr. James Barlow and Mr. W. H. Thompson. Auditor: Mr. J. Barlow. Vestrymen Messis. T. D. Pritchard, W. H. Thompson, James Barlow, Parry, Richard Lomax, William Hulme, A. Walton, John Green, F. Leather, J. Chadwick, John Hulme, Henry Holland, and James Dale. Votes of thanks to the officers for the past year, and to the Chairman (the Rev. W. Mules) were passed unanimously. The Chairman suitably replied. The Benediction brought the meeting to a close. The foundations for our Iron Church are in progress, and we trust that we shall be able to open it on Tuesday, June 15th, and on the following day the Rev. W. Mules will (D.V.) be installed as Vicar. Our Sunday School Treat will (D.V.) be on Whit Thursday, when, after the procession through the village, it is intended to take the scholars to a field at Urmston, kindly lent by David James, Esq. Our Institute, connected with the Sunday School, is doing its work well. We have essays and discussions at regular intervals; also a small Library, and we are pleased to see that the first book in the Catalogue is the Bible. Baptized, Sunday, April 18th, Arthur George, son of Rev. William and Mary Mules. April 25th, William, sen of John and Mary Green. BRAINTREE (Christ Church).—We have extreme pleasure in inserting the following from The Essex Weekly News of the 7th ult. : "CHRIST CHURCH, BRAINTREE: PRESENTATION TO THE REV. C. SNOSSWELL-A tea meeting and social evening in connection with this church took place on Thursday, April 29th, in the schoolroom adjoining the Baptist Chapel, which had been kindly lent for the occasion. About 100 members of the congregation sat down to an excellent repast supplied by Mr. H. Bearman. After the good things provided had been summarily disposed of, a very pleasant evening was passed, the number present at tea being considerably augmented by a good many fresh arrivals. At the commencement of the proceedings a purse of sovereigns, which had been collected during the week, and to which every member of the congregation, as well as a number of friends belonging to all the principal denominations in the town had subscribed, was presented to the Rev. C. Snosswell-amidst loud and long continued applause.-Mr. Snosswell having suit ably acknowledged the presentation so unexpectedly made to him, and also the kindness of the Pastor and Deacons of the Baptist Chapel in placing the room at his disposal for the evening free of all charge, went on to explain the purpose for which the meeting was held. Their Church had now been in existence for 14 years, and he was about to enter on the 10th year of his ministry amongst them. They might, therefore, reasonably consider themselves to have become firmly rooted; and he believed that it needed only a little effort on their part to ensure a vigorous growth. It was to promote this that they were then met together. He referred, amongst other things, to the contemplated opening of the church for public worship on Sunday afternoons, and to the expected visit of Bishop Gregg, who had kindly promised to be with them on May 27th, and to hold a Confirmation at a special evening service. Speaking generally, he said that people worshipping in the church should bear in mind that they were in an especial manner members of the same family, and should cultivate a kindly feeling one tewards another, and concluded by expressing his earnest desire that his ministry might be increasingly helpful to them. Later in the evening, Mr. Snosswell took the opportunity to publicly acknowledge his obligation to Mr. Norman Orfeur, for his very able services as organist, and to the members of the choir for their assistance; and a vote of thanks on the part of the congregation having been proposed and carried by acclamation, Mr. Orfeur, in responding, said that he was much obliged to Mr. Snosswell and the congregation for the kind vote of thanks they had given him. He was pleased to be able to be of some service, and felt himself amply rewarded for any trouble he might take in the matter, by the assurance he had just received that his services met with their approval.-During the evening a selection of vocal and instrumental music was given by the members of the choir in a manner which did them considerable credit, and brought upon them the pleasing necessity of having to repeat some of their pieces.-The meeting was closed by the Doxology and prayer; three cheers and 'one or two more' for Mr. and Mrs. Snosswell being heartily given as the company separated." LISCAPD. (Christ Church.)-On Wednesday, May 5th, our Easter meeting was held. The attendance was good. The chair was taken by the Rev. William Mules, R.D., of Eccles. After the accounts were presented and passed, showing a balance in hand of £3 2s. 2d., the churchwardens and vestrymen for the ecclesiastical year were proposed and elected. A hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr. Fisher, who through evil and good report has so faithfully stood at his post. The valued services of Mr. W. Copeland are worthy of much praise. He superintends the Sunday school and choir, assists the minister, manages the accounts, and interests himself on our behalf in many other ways. watchword still is "Faint yet pursuing." Our WARRINGTON. (Emmanuel Church.)- Our annual meeting was held on the Thursday evening in Easter week, when the accounts were presented by the wardens and duly passed, showing that the amonnt of our debt has been considerably reduced. Votes of thanks were accorded to the retiring officers and to church workers. The following gentlemen were elected to serve in their respective offices for the |