friend to be informed that no sooner was it mentioned than it was cordially taken up by all the members, but that it appeared to have suggested itself to several before it took the tangible form which it had since done. For this purpose they had procured an elegant and excellent timepiece, as best suited to convey their sentiments in a useful form, and they begged his acceptance of it as a token of their grateful sense of his services, and a memento of the connection which had so long subsisted between them. It would also be gratifying to him to know that the offering had not only been spontaneous but general, every member of the congregation having contributed towards it. performing the pleasing duty which had been assigned him, the chairman begged to add to the kindly sentiments of those in whose name he presented it, his own sincere wishes that Mr. Berry might long be spared to prosecute his useful labours, which, under Providence, had been so useful to the Church in Northampton.

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The timepiece was of different coloured marbles, striking hours and half-hours, and was surmounted by a suitable bronze ornament. The following inscription was engraved on the plate : "Presented to John Parton Berry by the members and friends of the New Jerusalem Church, Northampton, as a token of love and gratitude for his valuable and disinterested services amongst them. March 1869."

Mr. Berry, who, on rising to acknowledge the gift, was greeted with loud and long-continued applause, was much affected, and with deep emotion said

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My dear and reverend Sir, and my very dear Christian brothers and sisters, the varied emotions and thoughts that fill my heart and mind make it exceed-' ingly difficult to express, as I could wish, my deep sense of your great kindness, and how very much I appreciate this valued expression of your Christian regarl towards myself.

"I can truly say that I have ever found a present reward in fulfilling the duties which have devolved upon me as your leader; it has been a work of love in which I have been sustained by the intelligence, zeal, and consistent lives of an earnest people. I have not known the sorrow of those whose unhappiness it has been to minister to an unfaithful Church, neither have my

hands been caused to hang down with spiritual feebleness by the moral and spiritual declension of its members. If I have been enabled by the Lord's mercy to be spiritually helpful to you, it is not from any inherent goodness or wisdom of my own; but that, having given heed to the call of others who had drunk of the sweet and satisfying waters of New Church doctrine, and having myself drank of them and experienced their power to reinvigorate my spiritual affections and to enlighten my understanding of the Divine Word -that only source of all true knowledge of the Being, Character, and Will of God, and of our true relationship to

Him as 'our Father in the heavens'I also had felt constrained to endeavour to communicate that knowledge to others.

"This is a duty devolving upon every one of us, and if I have been instrumental in quickening your spiritual affections and thoughts, you ought also, on all suitable occasions, to endeavour to excite similar feelings within the hearts and minds of your neighbours. I rejoice with you in the opportunity afforded by this very happy oocasion to share with me the experience I have ever felt in giving you spiritual things, that it is more blessed to give than to receive.' I am sure that you realise this (hear, hear'); and I have very great pleasure in accepting this valuable gift with which you have presented me this evening, because I know that it is a most sincere expression of your Christian love and esteem. Those amongst you who, with myself, have borne the heat and burden of the day' in labouring to establish the Lord's New Church in Northampton, can fully understand the intense gratification I feel on the present occasion. We are thankful for the past; our beloved Chairman has given expression to warm wishes for my future happiness amongst you; but the future is in the hands of a merciful Divine Providence. Most of you know that I have thought it might be necessary for me to remove to the metropolis. Whether or not this should be the case, this I can say from my inmost soul, that much as I felt the painful separation from my early religious associates in the Old Church, and they were many and very dear to me, yet I should feel my removal from yourselves far more

keenly. The New Church is the church of my choice; I had been associated with the Wesleyan Methodists from childhood; my pious and devoted parents had taught me to love and revere the ministers, and they were far more sensible of their value than we are, under the altered circumstances of to-day; for in the days of their youth the Wesleyan preacher was almost the only educated man who visited families in the country villages, and it was to him that they were indebted for the elevation of their minds above the common level, and also for that religious instruction which prepared them to enter upon an earnest and practical life of piety. It was natural to regret a separation from these, but my own case was similar to that of a youth who is the inmate of a happy home, but who, in natural order, desires a wife and a home of his own; and so I, in my early spiritual manhood, was brought to experience a most intense conviction that I ought to join that church, whose doctrine commended it, alike to my understanding and my heart."

The following gentlemen also addressed the meeting:-Messrs. Smith, S. T. Negus, Greaves, W. Barrow, Bellam, Rd. Weston, Harrison, Owen, and Dykes. It was brought to a close by votes of thanks to Messrs. Greaves and Harrison for their musical services, and to the rev. Chairman for his great kindness in presiding on this most interesting occasion.

NOTTINGHAM.-The Society in this town, under the able ministration of Mr. T. Moss, B. A., bids fair to become a centre of great usefulness. In addition to the regular services of the church on each Sabbath, the Sundayschool, and the weekly meetings for reading New Church works, conversation, &c. A few of the energetic members of the Society commenced, last year, a series of fortnightly "Penny Readings," which were held in the Schoolroom (underneath the church), and largely attended throughout the season. The success which crowned their efforts induced the managing committee to renew these readings during the past winter, in which they have proved even more successful. The closing entertainment was given on Saturday, May 1st, in the large hall of the Mechanics'

Institution, which is capable of seating about two thousand persons, and was very successful and encouraging-the spacious room being filled to repletion. An extended and laudatory notice of the proceedings appeared in one of the local papers, from which it appears that the efforts to please met with an enthusiastic reception by the audience. Our friends regard these social gatherings not as directly an institution arising out of the spiritual requirements of the Church, but as one of the means which they are justified in encouraging, as tending to cement friendship, attract attention, and extend the influence and usefulness of the Church.

PRESTON.-The Preston Chronicle of May 15th gives a report of nearly two columns of the services connected with the opening of a new organ and the celebration of the first quarter of a century of the opening of the church. We extract as large a portion of this report as our space will permit.

On Sunday last a new organ was opened in this place of worship, by Mr. C. J. Yates, the organist of St. George's, with considerable éclat. It was presented by Mrs. Becconsall, widow of the late H. Becconsall, Esq., who built and endowed the church. The instrument is a bold and handsome structure, built expressly for this church by Mr. J. Squire, of Seymour-street, Eustonsquare, London. Beside the usual hymn tunes, several' voluntaries and other pieces were beautifully played, which showed the compass, quality, and power of the instrument, with good effect. Its contents are as follows:- Great organ: 56 notes CC to G; open diapason, metal, 56 pipes; dulciana, 44; clarabella, wood, 44; stop diapason, 12; flute, metal, 56; principal, 56; fifteenth, 56. Swell organ: 56 notes, C C to G ; stop diapason, wood, 56 pipes; open diapason, metal, 44, oboe, 56; principal, 56; fifteenth, 56; mixture, 19th and 22nd, 12 pipes. Pedals: 29 notes, CCC to E; Bourdon (large scale) 29 pipes. Couplets Great to pedals, swell to pedals, swell to great; three composition pedals to act on the great organ stops. The service in the morning was conducted by the resident minister, the Rev. E. D. Rendell, who delivered a very practical discourse on “Religious worship; its nature, duties,

and advantages. After an appropriate introduction, he said worship is one of the most eminent parts of religious duty. It consists in acts by which honour, homage, and adoration are paid to the Supreme Being and those acts imply confession of sins and prayer, thanksgiving, and praise. Those acts of worship, to be of use in the formation of the regenerate character, must be approached with spiritual affection and thought, since it is these which connect the worshipper with the Lord, and provides for him the internal satisfaction and peace which he is permitted to enjoy. Acts of worship are the fruits of such affection and thought; they are the orderly outbursts of a spiritual essence, and the essence cannot have any permanent existence until it be embodied in acts. Our worship cannot be accepted as a living thing in heaven if we do not make it a living thing in the world. How plain is it that no one can worship the Lord who does not believe in Him and love Him; belief and love, therefore, are the essentials of worship. But these essentials must manifest themselves in life and conduct. It cannot be too seriously impressed on our minds that true worship is an enlightened activity of faith and love, which leads a man to do what is right and just upon all occasions. They who live unjustly do not worship the Lord; they may imitate the duty, but the mockery cannot be otherwise perceived in heaven than as an ill scented odour. Love cannot be without its activity, and when it is directed towards the Lord, worship is its first result, because it has joy in bringing itself into manifestation. In all true worship there is humiliation of heart: the reason is, because in proportion as the heart is humiliated, the love of self and the evils which are associated with it are made to cease, and when this takes place influences from the Lord can flow into man and attend him with charity and faith. The Lord is worshipped where good uses are performed, and these are taught in the Divine word." These thoughts were elaborated and argued at considerable length. Thanksgiving was also treated of as a spiritual sentiment, which shews its appreciation of the benefits and blessings which have been received by a life of charity and usefulness; and praise was handled in

a similar manner. A special point was made of this act of worship, because of its being associated with music, and the introduction of a new organ. We can

only give a brief notice of what was said upon this subject. The trumpet and timbrel, the organ and cymbals, were, in the Jewish dispensation, called in to aid the duty of holy praise, Praise, therefore, occupies a position of great importance in the worship of the Lord; the reason is because sweet sounds are the natural exponents of spiritual joy. Every experienced Christian knows that singing the praises of the Lord is the expression of a glad heart on account of His great goodness. All the sounds of the living voice are the manifestations of some interior affection. Thus, the

sounds of anger are harsh and dissonant, those of pity are sweet and plantive, and those of love are mellifluous and soft, and this is the case irrespective of the expressions by which they may be accompanied. The thought is from the understanding; the sounds are from the will. Singing in its completeness embraces the actions of both these activities of the mind, and it ought specially to be the case whensoever singing is employed in the praises of the Lord. To give utterance to the thought which the words of the song express without the affection, or to give utterance to the sounds of the affection without the thought, is defective praise; in the one case it is as light without the joy, in the other it is gladness without the light. They must be conjoined, and fulness of the praise will depend upon the intimacy of the conjunction. the thoughts which are set to music; and the music is intended to express the thought with joyful sounds; neither should be sacrificed for the other; both are requisite to the existence of perfect praise. The mind as well as the heart should be interested, and then the whole faculties of men are aroused into a condition of holy enjoyment. these views the preacher insisted upon the duty of religious people attending to every act of worship with their best ability. God, said he, should be approached with the very best of everything that we possess. This is what we do for those we really love, and we have no reason to suppose that God will be satisfied with less. The discourse lasted nearly an hour, and it

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was listened to with great attention. In the evening, the Rev. J. Hyde, of Manchester, preached. His subject was, 'Beautifying the Lord's Sanctuary." He continued the exposition and argument that was begun in the morning with great power and eloquence. The musical services were very effective and satisfactory. The attendances were large.

On the following (Monday) evening, Mr. Hyde delivered a lecture on the "Life after death" to a numerous audience. This lecture is reported at considerable length.

On Wednesday evening, a soiree was held to celebrate the presentation of the new organ, and the first quarter of a century of the opening of the New Church in Preston. There was a large attendance. A most hospitable board was provided. The meeting was entertained by music on the organ, pianoforte, and singing; also by addresses from the Revs. E. D. Rendell and J. Hyde and other friends. A handsome resolution was passed to the lady who had presented the organ, and the proceedings terminated about half-past eleven with the Evening Hymn. An entertainment was given to the Sunday school scholars, on Thursday evening, which was thoroughly enjoyed by them.

Marriages.

At the New Jerusalem Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne, December 24, 1868, by the Rev. W. Ray, Mr. Thomas Riddell of Gateshead to Miss Elizabeth Robson.

At the New Jerusalem Church, Bedford Street North, Liverpool, May 6, by Mr. Redman Goldsack, Alfred, fourth son of Edmund Swift, Esq., Grov, Street, Liverpool, to Elizabeth Stokese eldest surviving daughter of the late James W. Gillaird, Esq., of Ash House, near Liverpool.

At the New Jerusalem Church, Heywood, May 13, by the Rev. R. Storry, Mr. Thomas Bowker to Miss Mary Scott.

Obituary.

At sea, on a voyage to Norway, about

the beginning of March, William, eldest son of the late Captain Gowdy, R.N., of Newcastle-on-Tyne. The screwsteamer "Edith" sailed from the Tyne February 26, with a crew of fifteen hands, and neither ship nor crew have since been heard of. William Gowdy was mate, and leaves behind him a wife and child. He was brought up by New Church parents, was a member of the Newcastle Society, and lived an orderly and industrious life.

At Graaf Reinet, March 17, 1869, aged 46 years, Charles, the second son of Mr. Alfred Essex of that place, formerly of London. He bore an unblemished character, and endured a lifelong affliction with patience, sustained by the principles of the New Church, in which he had been born and educated.

April 19, aged 70, Samuel Hughes of Salford. The deceased was taken away suddenly by apoplexy, after having attended the society's quarterly tea meeting the evening before. He was for more than thirty years a member of the Salford Society, and for a long time one of its churchwardens.

Mrs. Sarah Riley, aged 55, wife of Mr. W. Riley of Church, near Accrington, left this world on Friday morning, April 30, after a very short illness, at Charlton, near Woolwich, whither she had gone a few weeks before, on a visit to a married daughter. She will be known to many friends, as for many years it was a duty she undertook for the Accrington Society to receive the ministers who visited them, and supply their varied comforts. Mrs. Riley was the daughter of an old and much respected member of the New Church at Accrington, and was herself an example of a loving, steady, patient spirit, ever desirous of promoting the happiness of her family and all amongst whom her duty lay, as a pious, thoughtful Christian. Her bereaved husband and family feel her loss most deeply, but feel also the attraction of her blessed influence to the peaceful mansions of heaven. She died with the gentle words upon her lips, "I shall be better soon.'