From the fact that he charged us to write immediately on receipt of his last letter, if we expected him to receive it before embarking, we are tempted to conclude upon his presence before the time specified. "We have information of, and some acquaintance with several brethren, who love the work of proclaiming the Gospel, and have been more or less engaged in it. Such of these as are considered ready for entire devotion to the work, will doubtless be presented to the meeting in due order, by the churches to whom they are best known. "In concluding this bare statement of facts permit us to propose for your consideration the addition of another item to the Schedule for next year, viz.-Probable amount of contributions to the Evangelist Fund for the ensuing year. "Dear Brethren in thus closing the sixth year of our service, we thank you for the confidence hitherto reposed in us, and are your faithful servants in the Lord, WILLIAM PERKINS, JOHN CORF, MATTHEW HARVEY, GILBERT Y. TICKLE, TIMOTHY COOP, Wм. MCDOUGALL." The Report and the Treasurer's Cash Statement were approved. After deliberation it was RESOLVED-"That the Report of Committee be printed with the Balance Sheet and forwarded to the churches on the list, and to the individual subscribers." A proposal having been made to re-elect the Committee, it was RESOLVED " That the appointment of Committee stand over till after No. 6 on the programme, and that the amended programme stand thus for future meetings1. Read statistical information contained in the schedules; 2. Read propositions and suggestions contained in letters and schedules; 3. Read the minutes of the last annual-meeting; 4. Receive reports from the Evangelist Committee; 5. Consider the propositions already read from the schedules and letters; 6. Appoint Committee for ensuing year; 7. Consider suggestions and propositions not contained in the letters, if any; 8. Appoint place and time for next meeting." The numerous applications for Evangelistic help were then cited. and the Evangelists were requested to give an outline of labors during the past year and also to state their impressions in regard to the future. Harbinger, Sept 1, '67. DAVID KING referred to short visits by him to Newcastle, Bedlington, North Shields, Wortley, Lincoln, Banbury, Leicester, Chesterfield, and Sheffield-also to labors in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Wednesbury and Walsall. In Birmingham alone there had been during the year fifty persons immersed, also others who were not resident in the town. In the three neighbouring churches forty others had been baptized, making, in the five churches, ninety thus buried into the death of Christ. Other additions had been made of persons formerly immersed. He deemed it desirable for the present to make Birmingham his home and the centre of operations. not because the church would not be sustained in his absence for he rejoiced in the assurance that were he to see the town no more the church would stand, and he did not expect the time to arrive when Bir mingham would be without the church. But as the work required him to have a settled home and that it should be in one of the larger towns the central position of Birmingham rendered it preferable, giving ready facility for the frequent journeying which numerous demands rendered necessary. He gave information concerning the training of Evangelists, which was shown to be a success in the particulars of obtain ing men and money, and in the manifest results seen in the brethren who had been favored with the advantages provided. J. B. ROTHERHAM gave an outline of work in Manchester, showing good results in saving souls and edifying brethren and in instructing young members. He referred to useful visits to Newcastle, Bedlington, Oldham, Stockport, and other places, and also gave an outline of a number of visits of a few days each during a tour of a month just ended. He considered that owing to failing health and removal among the leading brethren in the church in Manchester it would be desirable for him to remain in that neighbourhood, and he was glad to discern that in doing so he would be able to visit other places in increased number during the coming year. In Manchester more than twenty had been added to the church by immersion. W. HINDLE. Had labored with considerable success in London for several months, had visited Banbury, labored a number of weeks in Walsall, where notwithstanding the hardness of the soil several had been added to the saved. He had visited Wednesbury and Wolverhampton and labored with interest and success in Blackburn and Bolton. Other items of interest were named and he intimated that he felt bound to provide for Blackburn and Bolton, which he hoped to do considerably by arranging a plan for Brethren preaching Harbinger, Sept. 1, '67. there in turn. He would be willing from time to time to labor as he and the Committee might see desirable, but his stay in any place must be dependent on the prospect of sufficient good being realized. W. MCDOUGALL had spent the greater part of the year away from his usual field of labor, in order to meet the more pressing claims. He went early in August to Banbury and remained a month, removing the prejudices of many. He had also returned there for a few days in April. He gave a pleasing account of labor in Leicester, intimating that to write a full account of the interesting particulars would require a thick pamphlet. The first two visits he had the pleasure of adding thirty-eight persons to the Church. The next visit closed with fifteen souls turned to God and not a few left inquiring. The last visit was from early in June to the 25th of July, and twenty-three souls during that time found Jesus as their Lord, making in all more than seventy souls. He left the Chapel filled with hearers, and had no doubt but that continued attention would in another year fill it with worshippers. DISCUSSION ensued as to locating Evangelists. In reference to D. King, it was suggested that inquiry should be made of the meeting whether it is deemed satisfactory that a general Evangelist, laboring in connection with the committee, should devote the time required for editing and publishing the Harbinger and other literary work, and also for the training of Evangelists. The brother suggesting the inquiry declared himself quite satisfied as to the desirability of the work in question being done by D. K., but he considered it due to the meeting that its consent should be had. One other member having made inquiry as to the work of an Evangelist, D. King stated that he had never been what they understood by the term a general Evangelist. When invited again and again to take that position he had promptly refused. He entered upon the work in connection with the then existing London committee and exclusively for the London district. His connection with the general committee had always differed from that of other Evangelists. He consented to leave London for the special and sole purpose of establishing a Church in Manchester, and when at the end of the year the annual-meeting urged him to continue his labors in that neighbourhood for another year he consented. That request had been renewed each year until now, and he had in each year complied, with the understanding that he would be at liberty to respond to applications for help from other places, so far as the claims of Birmingham would permit. As to the training of Evangelists, it was part of the work of an Evangelist to commit the truth to faithful men, that they also might teach others. By the pen and press he was addressing thousands beyond the seas, not only in the Harbinger, but by re-prints therefrom; and these two works he would continue to do (with the blessing of God) though he would gladly give up either if more competent brethren were raised up to do them. As to publishing the Harbinger, &c., he would have it understood that it was largely attended to by other hands. The services of another were nearly entirely given to it, as well as other labor hired. He considered that of his own time the full of what would constitute the labor of one person was given directly to the work of an Evangelist. The case, however, stood thus-he did not desire to continue his connection with the general committee and fund. He consented to do so because it was generally thought, and because he thought, that the cause would be better promoted than by his acting alone. If the meeting, or even any considerable minority, supposed that it Iwould be better-in view of the work he is engaged in-that his connection with the committee and fund should cease, he would be most happy to terminate that connection with the present quarter, and, in some respects, doing so would be to him a convenience. In the event of so doing he would not preach the less, nor do in any way less of the work of an Evangelist. If, on the other hand, they considered his acting as heretofore would best promote the common cause, he would fall in with that conclusion, but, unless it were freely desired, he had no wish so to do, nor could his work and position in these exceptional circumstances be made a standard for others who entered into arrangements under circumstances not thus exceptional. After due consideration it was unanimously RESOLVED "That Bro. King be recommended to continue to make Birmingham the centre of his evangelistic operations and render to the District the benefit of his oversight and to Birmingham such aid as will enable them to continue to supply the needed help to the neighboring churches." Conversation followed upon the requirements of Manchester and neighbourhood and the wants of other places, when it was likewise RESOLVED "6! -"That Bro. Rotherham be recommended during the ensuing year to continue his labors in Manchester and dis trict, giving such assistance to places needing help as may be consistent with the requirement of the district." The applications from London were duly considered in connection with the requirements of other places, and it was RESOLVED "That Bro. Hindle be recommended to devote special attention during the ensuing year to the churches in London, the labor in other places to be left with himself and the Evangelist Committee." The application from Chesterfield for help and the recommendation that a church be planted in Sheffield were before the meeting more than once. It was urged that Sheffield should be commenced as was Manchester, with several Evangelists. Ultimately it was considered not practicable to undertake Sheffield immediately. London and Leicester received considerable consideration in view of the wants of other places. It was ultimately RESOLVED "That Bro. McDougall be requested to give such attention to Leicester and London as his other engagements will permit." JOHN STRANG. It having been recommended by churches and individuals that this brother be added to the number of the Evangelists sustained by the Committee, considerable conversation took place as to whether his efforts should be devoted, in connection with such help as could be given by D. King, to the planting of a church in Sheffield or to meeting the wants of Walsall, Wolverhampton, and places near Birmingham. Eventually it was RESOLVED "That the paragraph refering to Bro. Strang and the engagement of young Evangelists in the letter from Charles Henry Street, Birmingham, be entered in the minutes of the meeting, and, in pursuance of that recommendation that Bro. Strang be requested to enter upon the work under the supervision of Bro. King and with the co-operation of Birmingham Brethren." EDWARD EVANS, who for some years co-operated with the churches Harbinger, Sept. 1, '67. and committee as an Evangelist, and who had gained the love and esteem of all who knew him, being, as was supposed, at liberty to enter again upon the work, (although no application had either directly or indirectly been authorized by him), it was recommended to invite him so to do. Conversation brought out convictions that for certain features of Evangelistic work he is not adapted, but it was admitted by all that in certain other particulars he is second to none and that there are numerous openings which his services would well fill. With the understanding that the Committee pay special attention to locating his labors it was RESOLVED "That Bro. Edward Evans be invited to return to the labor of the Gospel." WALES. D. King having called attention to Wales suggested that as Edward Evans could converse, though not preach, in Welsh, and as he knew much of Wales, it would be well for him to undertake a tour among the Welsh churches to promote their co-operation in accordance with the circular read to the meeting. It was also suggested that Lancashire would prove a most Consuitable field for his labor. siderable conversation ensued. D. K. urged that it would be well to release him in regard to Wales by putting that work in the hands of Edward Evans. It was, however, considered that if possible he should carry out his original intention, and it was therefore RESOLVED " That Bro. D. King be recommended to visit Wales to prosecute the proposed object so soon as other requirements will permit." RESOLVED " That Bro. Evans be left in the hands of the Committee for such appropriation of labor as may be needed in the field generally." THE SCHEdule. Several alterations were proposed, but one only adopted RESOLVED "That the words 'withdrawn or expelled' be erased and the word 'separated' substituted." |