HOLDERNESS ROAD CHAPEL, HULL,

N no single religious society in the town of Hull has the hand of God been so signally witnessed for good as in that worshipping within the sanctuary given in this month's Messenger. The first class was formed on the Holderness-road about forty-five years ago, and was met in Mr. G. Wright's house by Mr. H. Parker, who was well fitted for the office of class leader. It was eventually divided by

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Mr. W. Clowes between its first leader and Mr. W. Cole. Some thirty years since an attempt was made to build a connexional chapel in Dansom-lane, but certain friends fearing lest the interests of Mill-street society would suffer by the erection of a new chapel, the £30 collected for the purpose were returned to the donors. It would appear that those were days of fear as well as of faith.

In October, 1856, Holborn-street chapel was rented of the Rev. E. Morley, Independent minister, and became by the blessing of God upon the earnest labours of His people the birth-place of many souls.

The present chapel stands on the north side of the Holderness-road, and has a frontage of 90 feet, enclosed with iron palisading. The style of the building is an adaptation of the Corinthian, from the designs of Mr. J. Wright, architect, Hull. The basement storey has two entrances on the east side, where a new street is intended, and one on the west side, which leads to the class-rooms now in course of erection. It contains a school-room 51 feet 6 inches by 31 feet 6 inches, infant rooms, and several good class-rooms. There is a heating apparatus, and also a boiler for providing water for tea-meetings. There is a staircase leading from the school to the vestibule on the ground floor. The entire dimensions of the chapel are 51 feet 6 inches wide by 71 feet long, and will seat over 1,000 persons. The principal front is faced with stock bricks with stone dressings. There are three entrances, approached by stone steps opening into a vestibule, which give access to the body of the chapel and to the gallery staircase. At each end of the vestibule there is a vestry-one for the minister, the other for the stewards. The pews on the ground floor are slightly elevated and of circular form, with tables and drawers to the larger ones and book boards to the rest.

The gallery is circular at both ends and makes the circuit of the chapel, and is supported on iron pillars with ornamental caps. The pews have a rise of thirteen inches, and are in other respects like those on the ground floor, all of which have reclining backs and are stained and varnished. The platform is between the entrance doors and in front of the vestibule, and is circular in form-the lower part being panelled-having a mahogany rail resting on ornamental iron work. The altar rail is in front of the platform, and is in keeping with the latter. Behind is the orchestra, and organ gallery which contains an excellent organ. The front of the gallery and platform is painted in imitation of enamel, and is picked out in gold.

The ceiling is divided into panels and finished with a large cove and enriched cornice, which runs round the chapel. It has three centre flowers; from the middle one is suspended a most magnificent chande

lier of forty-five lights. The whole of the building is fitted up with gas, and is heated by hot water. In the rear of the chapel are the out offices, and on the west side there is a large plot of land, on part of which a lecture room (38 feet by 19) and nine good class rooms are now being erected.

The number of members when the chapel was opened in 1865 was 217. There are at present 555 persons in church fellowship. There is an excellent Sunday-school of 500 children, besides other institutions in operation for the promotion of the work of God.

The entire cost of the chapel was £4,300. This includes the site and boundary walls. For a full account of the opening services the reader may consult the Large Magazine for September, 1865.

Hull.

H. R.

THE BEST ORNAMENT.

BY THE REV. RICHARD NEWTON, D.D.

"THE ornament of a meek and quiet spirit" is the best ornament, because the longer it is worn the more beautiful it becomes. Other ornaments soon fade. You have seen a May-queen adorned with roses and other lovely flowers. They look very beautiful at first, but how soon they begin to droop and wither! So it is with the ornaments we put upon our clothes. In the spring we get them new and fresh, but before the summer is over they become soiled and faded, and lose their beauty. It is just the same with the ornaments which God puts upon our faces when we are young. The bright eyes and blooming cheeks which many young persons have are very beautiful; but oh, how soon they fade away! I remember that when I was a little fellow, about ten years old, I used to have bushy brown hair and cheeks like roses. Sometimes persons would stop me in the street, and say, "Why, my little man, what have you been doing to your cheeks?" But I hadn't done anything. Those rosy cheeks were the ornaments which God had put there. But the bushy brown hair and rosy cheeks have gone long since.

Men sometimes carve monuments out of wood, or stone, or iron, or brass, and put them upon their houses or other buildings. Yet, even these will crumble to pieces and wear away.

But how different it is with "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit," of which we are speaking! This never fades, and never wears out. Yes, and not only so, but it keeps on growing more and more beautiful all the time. If we should live to be as old as Methuselah it would not stop growing in beauty while we lived. No, nor would it stop growing in beauty in death even. Moses was the meekest man upon earth, when he lived. He wore this ornament for eighty years. It was growing in beauty ali that time. He has been dead between three and four thousand years. This ornament has been growing more beautiful upon him ever since he died. O, how lovely he must appear now in heaven, as he wears this best ornament still! Suppose you had a pearl, or a diamond, that was growing larger in size and more brilliant in appearance every year, how very valuable it would be! There is no such pearl or diamond in the world. But the "ornament of a meek and quiet spirit" is like a spiritual pearl or diamond; and it has this wonderful property, that it is growing in beauty and value all the time. Then we may well say it is the best ornament. It is so because Jesus wore it; it is so because it is so useful; it is so because it makes those who wear it beautiful; it is so because it may be worn at all times; and it is so because the longer it is worn the more beautiful it becomes. Jesus says, "Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly." If you have bad tempers, pray to Him to help you to overcome them. He will give you "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." This is a good reason why you should seek it. God loves it. God loves other ornaments, or else He wouldn't have made so many. See how He has ornamented the sky with that deep blue colour -with those lovely clouds and rainbows-and all the beauties of the sunrise and sunset. See how He has ornamented the earth with trees and shrubs, and flowers and grass. See how He has ornamented the birds with feathers of the most beautiful colours, and even the little butterflies with a dress more splendid than the richest lady in the land ever put on. But God does not think much of any of these, or else He would not let them fade so soon. It is not said of any of these ornaments that they are "of great price in His sight." This is only said of this best ornament, of which we are speaking. If it only said that this "of great price in man's sight," that wouldn't be much. Men often make mistakes, and think things of great value that are worth very little. I know a gentleman who was a sailor when a young man. He once went on a voyage to the South Shetland Islands-far down towards the south pole. The object of the voyage was to get seal skins. The vessel remained there a good while. One day, in wandering about on shore, my friend discovered a cave. He entered the cave, and found

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a great mass of what he took to be diamonds. He hastened back to the ship, got a large bushel bag, filled it with the supposed diamonds, and put them away in his great sea-chest. He said nothing about his discovery, but kept the secret to himself. All the voyage home, however, he comforted himself with the thought that when he returned home he would be the richest man in town. But when his treasures came to be examined, instead of being diamonds they proved to be only quartz crystals, and the whole bagful was not worth a shilling! Men often think things of great price that are really worth nothing. never makes such a mistake. When He says a thing is valuable, we may be sure it is so; and He says that this " best ornament is of great price" in His sight. Then let us all seek it and wear it.

SOMETHING TO IMITATE.

A METHODIST farmer had three children, whom we shall name John, Bill, and James. They were brought up not only to join spiritually in acts of devotion, but also to give in true Wesleyan style a hearty Amen now and again, as their worthy parent prayed for them, himself, and the world. One day, it is said, the godly farmer and his wife went to market and left their farm steading in charge of the boys, who were exceedingly anxious to do their best to keep all things in order. It happened, however, that a fire broke out in the kitchen which the young fellows by working hard not only kept under, but altogether extinguished. After they had subdued the dangerous element they felt conscious they had done something, and were not a little proud of their position. In this spirit they went to meet their parents, and when they met their father and mother, John and Bill expatiated at length on the heroic deeds they had accomplished. After rewarding the two elder boys with a well-done and a smile, the father turned to little James and said, "Well, James, we have heard what John and Bill did, but what did you do?" Little James looked up in his father's face and replied, "Oh father, I am so little I could not do much, but while my brothers were carrying water and throwing it on the flames, I clapped my hands and cried, Amen, Amen." "My dear boy," said both parents at once,