Compartment I. For the young people. Answers to questions of last month:-(13) Keilah-1 Sam. xxiii. 1-13. (14) Mesha, king of Moab-2 Kings iii. 4, 26, 27. (15) The apostle Paul Acts xxi. 38. New Questions:-(16) To which tribes of Israel did the two faithful spies belong? (17) There were two prophets buried in one sepulchre; one of them came from Judah, the other from Samaria; where were they buried? (18) What man was that, of the same name with an abstemious preacher, and with a cowardly minister, before whom an apostle, also of the same name, was tried, acquitted, and threatened? Compartment II. For the general reader. Several good replies have been received to the query relative to the appearance of Samuel to King Saul. The following appears to us to be the best: There seems very little doubt, on careful reading of 1 Sam. xxviii. that Samuel did really appear; for no sooner had Saul spoken the words, "Bring me up Samuel," (v. 11) than we read, "When the woman saw Samuel she cried," etc.—showing both surprise and terror, and at the same time recognizing King Saul. In verse 14 we read, Saul perceived that it was Samuel." In fact, all through the narrative the sacred writer says it was Samuel himself who appeared and spoke to Saul; and seeing the prophet, "he (Saul) bowed himself, and stooped with his face to the ground"-which the king would hardly have done unless he had been actually assured of the presence of the aged prophet. But the conversation between Samuel and Saul gives the most convincing proof to my mind (see v. 15 to 19). Every word Samuel then uttered was fulfilled-the next day the Philistines gaining an easy victory over the Israelites, and Saul and his three sons falling victims on Mount Gilboa. Again, the woman could have had no time beforehand for any previous arrangements in order to deceive; and an impostor would not have dared to prophesy defeat, or remind the king of his sin and disobedience (v. 18). See also 1 Sam. xiii. 9-13. The woman may have been accustomed to deceive beforetime, but on this occasion God permitted Samuel to appear to pronounce the doom of King Saul, and once more remind him of his sin in forgetting and disobeying God. Derby. EMILY E. ELLIS. THE WYCLIFFE CELEBRATION. On the 31st of next December it will be 500 years since the death of John Wycliffe, the most distinguished among the precursors of the Great Reformation. As last year the Protestant world, led by Germany, celebrated the heroic achievements of Martin Luther, so it is proposed that the English people should, this year, call to remembrance the deeds of their great countryman. Of Wycliffe's personal history we know much less than of Luther's. He lived in a time further removed from us, and prior to the invention of printing. But the more we search into the records of the past, the more do we find that he is worthy of all the honour which during the next few months will be shown him. An Oxford Professor has remarked that "to Wycliffe we owe, more than to any one person that can be mentioned, our English Language, our English Bible, and our Reformed Religion." John Foxe, the martyrologist, says"At what time all the world was in most desperate and vile estate, and the lamentable ignorance and darkness of God's truth had overshadowed the whole earth, this man stepped forth like a valiant champion, unto whom may be justly applied that which is spoken in the book called Ecclesiasticus, 'even as the morning star being in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon being full in her course, and as the bright beam of the sun, so doth he shine and glisten in the temple and church of God." With all our hearts, then, shall we unite in this Quincentennial Wycliffe celebration. In a future number we propose to give a Life of Wycliffe, with a Portrait of the Reformer. Also, from the pen of an esteemed contributor, we hope to add some account of a visit to Lutterworth, the scene of Wycliffe's pastoral labours. The Association Programme. OUR 115th Association will be held at Loughborough, on June 23rd and following days. The Wood-gate brethren will be able to shew us a handsome new Chapel; and the speakers named below are sufficient guarantee for both intelligent and brilliant speaking; but a far more important consideration is, WHAT PRACTICAL GOOD WE SHALL ACCOMPLISH BY OUR MEETINGS. The routine work will, of course, be much as usual. On MONDAY afternoon, Commitees, followed at 6-45 by a Devotional Meeting, the Rev. E. Stevenson to preside; and at 7-30 by the Annual Meeting of the College, when the chair will be taken by J. E. Johnson-Ferguson, Esq., M.A., and addresses will be delivered by Revs. R. Glover, President of the Baptist Union, and Principal Goadby, B.A., of Nottingham. TUESDAY morning will open with a Devotional Meeting at 7; Rev. C. Pearce to preside, and short Addresses will be given by the Revds. J. R. Godfrey and S. Hirst. At 9-45 the Association will meet for business; its first work being the Election of a chairman. The Revds. R. Glover, and S. H. Booth will attend as a Deputation from the Baptist Union, with a view to secure increased help for the "ANNUITY FUND." Will our Churches make a note of this, and instruct their Pastors, or other Representatives, to promise contributions? In the afternoon at 3-0, the Foreign Mission Committee will meet in the Wesleyan School-room, Leicester Road. The Annual Public Meeting of the Home Mission will be held at 6-30, with Mr. Alderman Geo. Stevenson, of Leicester, in the chair, and Addresses by Revs. J. Fletcher, (Sec.,) R. Glover, W. H. Tetley, W. J. Avery, and A. H. Lee. At the Devotional Meeting, at 7-0 a.m., on Wednesday, Rev. W. L. Stevenson will preside, and an Address will be delivered by Rev. F. J. Bird. At 9-0, the Sunday School Conference will be held, W. H. Mallet, Esq., of Nottingham, to preside. The paper by Mr. S. Cowling, of Leicester, will be on Our Senior Scholars;" and the discussion will be opened by Mr. Reginald Hodder, of Derby. At 11-30, the Rev. T. R. Stevenson, of Derby, will preach the Association Sermon in Baxter Gate Chapel. At 2-30 p.m., the Lord's Supper, Rev. C. W. Vick to preside. At 3-30, Mr. J. Wallis Chapman will read the Association letter; Subject: "The duties of the Church in relation to the vices of the age." Free Conference to follow. The Foreign Missionary Meeting at 6-30, in Baxter Gate Chapel, will be presided over by T. Roe, Esq., M.P. for Derby, and Addresses will be delivered by A. H. Baynes, Esq., Secretary to the Baptist Missionary Society, and Rev. J. G. Pike, of Orissa. Beginning at 9-30 a.m., Thursday will be wholly devoted to business, except in the afternoon at 2-15, when the Local Preachers' Conference will be held in Wesley Chapel, Wood-gate, Mr. Councillor Cholerton, of Derby, in the chair. "The present condition and claims of our Village Churches" will be the subject of a paper read by Mr. J. T. Atton, of Spalding. Rev. E. H. Jackson will open the discussion. If necessary, there will be a further business session on Friday, at 9-30 a.m. All Meetings not otherwise announced, will be held in Wood-gate Chapel. Where will be the most interesting feature in our Meetings? Can we not make it in forming some plan to help our Village Churches? They need our best thought and care. Will every one who reads this page give an hour's thought to the subject, and then come to the Association, ready to help? Real service afforded to our struggling friends in villages, would make the Association a memorable one for years to come. WATSON DYSON, Secretary. The Local Secretary is Mr. B. Baldwin, Market Place, Loughborough. TO CONFERENCE SECRETARIES.-Reports of Ministerial Changes, and Letters from newly-settled Ministers, who desire to join our Association, should be sent to Rev. W. Gray, of Birchcliffe, Hebden Bridge, via Manchester, the engagements of the Rev. Dr. Burns being such that his attendance at the Tuesday's Meetings is uncertain. INDIRECT EVIDENCES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT FOR THE PERSONAL DIVINITY OF CHRIST. By F. R. Young, D.D. Price 2s. 6d. W. Stewart & Co., Faringdon Street. A THOROUGHLY good little book. If in these days of unsettlement any one has a friend to whom he desires to give or lend a volume on the above subject, not over large, pleasantly written, and perfectly candid in its statement of the case, he cannot do better than obtain this book of Dr. Frederic Young's. And even non-doubters will find their faith confirmed and rendered more intelligent by its perusal. The only thing we dislike about it is the portrait of the author at the beginning. The affixing of this seems to us a touch of personal vanity which had been better omitted. BIBLICAL THESAURUS; or, a Literal Translation and Critical Analysis of every word in the original languages of the Old Testament, with explanatory notes in Appendices. By the Right Rev. J. Helmuth, D.D., D.C.L., Assistant to the Bishop of Ripon. Vol. I. Part 1. Price 5s. Hodder & Stoughton. THIS book, when complete, will be a Dictionary of the Hebrew language, a Concordance, a Translation of the Old Testament, and, to a certain extent, a Critical Commentary all in one. As it will consist of several volumes, and the price of each volume will be a pound, the total cost will be not inconsiderable. The author feels confident that his work will be of great benefit to the ordinary English reader of the Bible; but we do not share his confidence, save as the liberal assistance here offered may encourage English readers to become students of Hebrew. To those, however, who have mastered the elements of this interesting language, Dr. Helmuth's Biblical Thesaurus will be most helpful and instructive. We have examined this first part under several test words, comparing the author's views with those of Gesenius, and with results that have interested us. E.g., the name Adam or man according to Gesenius is derived from a word signifying to be "ruddy." Helmuth deduces it from a bi-literal root signifying (1) to liken, (2) to think; Adam meaning "a thinking or reasoning" being.! Again, Elohim, the Hebrew word for God or gods, when used with a singular verb, means the great and good Being whom we worship; when used with a plural verb it denotes a plural subject, as gods. Now in Genesis xx. 13, Abraham says, "When Elohim made me wander from my father's house." What is his meaning? The authorised version translates "God;" but here the verb is plural. Keil and Delitsch say that Abraham expresses himself indefinitely, accommodating himself to the polytheistic standpoint of the Philistine king. Helmuth considers that Abraham alludes to the idols in his father's house, his abhorrence of which caused him to go into exile. Our readers will learn from these instances the nature and value of this great work. RAILWAY ADVENTURES And Anecdotes. Edited by Richard Pike. Price 3s. 6d. Hamilton, Adams, & Co. THERE are seasons in the life of most of us when we have neither time nor mental energy for serious reading, but when, nevertheless, we are glad to gather up by the way facts that are either amusing or important. What can better meet our case at such times than a book of anecdotes like the one before us? It is obvious that the wonderful railway enterprises of the last fifty years must have been the occasion of many striking incidents, of ludicrous and often startling adventures. In the present volume Mr. Pike gives us a large collection of these, for the most part well described. Almost every page offers something of interest. We trust that the author's industry in collecting and skill in arranging his materials will meet with their reward in a brisk sale. TALKS WITH YOUNG MEN. By J. Thain Davidson, D.D. Price 3s. 6d. Hodder and Stoughton. TWENTY racy, practical, sensible Christian addresses to young men, on the difficulties and temptations of every-day life. It is long since we met with anything of the kind altogether more to our mind. The following are some of the subjects:-"Wanted-a Man!"-"Setting out in Life," "Young Men from the Country," "The eyes of a young man opened," "Hungry Students; or Death in the Pot." Ministers would find the volume suggestive. So good a book ought soon to reach a second edition, in which case we should advise the adoption of a different title. The sort of young men most needing such talks have the greatest dislike of the idea of being talked to. Editorial Notes. ABOUT OURSELVES. The Freeman says, "We gladly notice that the General Baptist Magazine, under the new editorship of the Rev. Messrs. Stevenson and Fletcher, sustains its high character for intelligence and brightness. . . . . That General Baptist who neglects this magazine is unworthy of his denomination." OUR COLLEGE.-The Executive Committee, in view of the expenses which the Association authorised them to incur in making the new premises at Nottingham in all respects suitable for the needs of the College, and in building a President's house, intend appealing very earnestly for further donations and promises to the extent of about £1000 to the " "premises account" at the forthcoming Association at Loughborough. They therefore most earnestly request that visitors to the Association be prepared to give or at least promise generously and largely, and that ministers of churches, especially of churches which have not contributed to the fund, get the authority of their churches to promise donations on their behalf. The Treasurer acknowledges cash received for College Building Fund:Mr. E. Barwick, Nottingham, £5; Mr. Geo. Orchard, Ashby, £3 3s.; and again begs to ask the friends of the Institution to help promptly in this important work. THE COMING ASSOCIATION.-Loughborough, the enclosed town by the lough or lake,' is so well known to most General Baptists that we have not thought it necessary to follow the precedent of some former years, and insert in the Magazine a detailed description of the place, its churches and public institutions. But lest any student of Names, dwelling in the outskirts of the Connexion, should be beguiled into the expectation that, in his approaching visit to the Midlands, he will have the opportunity in the intervals between the crowded meetings of refreshing himself by a pleasant walk on the margin of some fair tree-bordered lake, we may tell him that that is never seen now except in flood-times. Long since, the site has been converted into fertile meadows, where lowing kine and the panting iron-horses of the railway have taken the place of the silvery denizens of the waters. Visitors from a distance must content themselves with the anticipation of an excursion on the Friday, when business is over, to the breezy hills of Charnwood Forest. A pic-nic there is already planned, and weather permitting, will be greatly enjoyed. But, to come to more important matters, we congratulate all the friends whom we hope to meet next month on the attractive programme before us. Some of the meetings ought to be specially good. The presence of the genial and able President of the Baptist Union will no doubt give increased interest to the proceedings of Monday and Tuesday evenings. With regard to our own President there is at present a blank where we hoped to have seen an honoured name. It is understood that our friend at Ealing declines the post his brethren in his absence had assigned him. But such as we can divine;" and our augury is that the choice of the Assembly will fall upon a Christian brother amiable and good, under whose gentle yet firm rule the debates will be conducted in a manner befitting both the occasion and the speakers. Wednesday cannot fail to be a great day. Of Mr. Reginald Hodder who is to open the discussion at the Sunday School Conference we hear good things. The preacher of the Association sermon is one who needs no commendation from us; we trust and believe that the service will be attended by much Divine power and blessing. The Association Letter, to be read at 3.30, is on a most important subject, and the writer one who will be sure to deal with the questions involved in a practical and useful way. And what shall be said of the Foreign Missionary meeting in the evening? With a popular Member of Parliament in the chair, and the eloquent Secretary of the Baptist Mission and our own earnest and energetic Missionary brother J. G. Pike, as the principal speakers, it must be interesting and successful. On Thursday the brethren will be full of business-the business of the Great King. We trust it will be attended to carefully, as is befitting,cheerfully and good-temperedly, as it commonly is, and with dispatch. The place is central, the people hospitable, the trains convenient,-altogether, we are anticipating a first-rate Association. SUNDAY CLOSING.-A letter from our friend, Dr. Dawson Burns, expresses his "regret" at the note which appeared on this subject in our last issue. Dr. Burns is good enough to give his reasons for so doing. But inasmuch as his reasons are no more satisfactory to us than our note was to him, we must agree to differ. J. F. NEW CHAPEL AT ALLERTON. THE friends at Sandy Lane are rejoicing in a new and beautiful sanctuary. The opening services began on Good Friday, when Rev. Dr. Clifford preached two sermons. On Sunday, April 13th, Mr. B. Ashworth conducted a scholars' service at 10.30, and sermons were preached by Rev. W. E. Winks, of Cardiff. On April 20th the Rev. T. H. Martin preached in the afternoon, and Rev. B. Wood, of Tetley Street, Bradford, in the evening. Collections at all the services about £90. Exclusive of land and old material, the chapel has cost about £1,600. The seats are of pitch pine, and will accommodate about 450 persons. The debt, including £200 from the Building Fund, is about £600, but this the friends are hoping to reduce very speedily. LANDPORT TO THE FRONT. The G. B. church in Portsmouth, situated nearly three hundred miles from the centre of our denominational life, and therefore little known to our friends in the Midlands and North, have decided to leave their very old premises and to remove from the locality, which has become almost a "slum" of the great seaport, to the most frequented and important thoroughfare in the town. They have secured a site for £1,600, and purpose erecting chapel and schools without delay. Will all our friends help them in the difficult task of establishing a respectable cause in a new isolated position in our great naval arsenal? A bazaar will be held shortly, and gifts will be gratefully received as per advertisement on another page. NEW SCHOOL AT LINEHOLME. The new premises were opened on March 16th by a public tea and meeting. About 450 were present. Rev. J. C. Jones, M.A., of Spalding, presided, and addresses were delivered by Rev. W. Stone (Vale), H. Briggs (Todmorden), and E. Evans (Todmorden). The day following, Mr. Jones preached morning and evening, and J. S. Gill, Esq., afternoon. Mr. Alcorn preached on the 24th. The amount realised by the opening services was over £50. The new school stands on the site of the old school built some forty years ago, but there is an extension of three yards on the west side, the ground for which has been given by Messrs. Fielden Bros. Externally the school has a commanding appearance, and is an immense improvement on the low and cramped structure which it replaces. Internally, however, the improvement and additional convenience is still more conspicuous. A spacious and welldesigned entrance opens into a vestibule, fitted with screen and folding doors, with coloured lead lights. On the left entrance are three ladies' class-rooms, one capable of seating forty and the others sixteen each. Next to these, and occupying the central portion of the building, is a lecture-room 19ft. by 26ft., fitted with marble fire-range and well furnished, capable of seating one hundred persons. At the rear are four class-rooms for the young men and boys, same size as those previously named. Underneath the staircase are store rooms, and beneath the boys' class-rooms there is a capital kitchen, with all necessary conveniences for providing teas, including a lift for carrying provisions into the upper rooms. The large room measures 44ft. by 34ft. 6in., height 16ft. It will comfortably accommodate four hundred persons. The proportions are admirable, and all the appointments and details are most tastefully and conveniently arranged. Architect, Mr. T. Horsfield, Manchester, one of our old scholars. The total cost, including furnishing, &c., is a trifle over £1,000, towards which nearly £600 has been raised, leaving a debt of £400. NEW SCHOOLS AT STAPLEford. The foundation stone of the new structure was laid on December 3rd in last year. On Easter Tuesday the building was opened by Dr. Clifford, of London, who preached in the afternoon in the chapel and in the evening in the new school-room. Before the afternoon sermon Mr. H. Mee, the Secretary, read a carefully prepared statement of the progress made by the school since its |