The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-09 00:00:00

EXECUTION AT GLASGOW.

POTATO SHOW, ALEXANDRA PALACE.

EXHIBITORS, Committee too,
Around the tales moved with air profound,
Wearing the looks of men who knew
The Eyes of England on them, and around !—Punch.

THE BAPTIST UNION AT PLYMOUTH.

About five hundred delegates and ministers of the
Baptist Union assembled at Plymouth on Monday, to
commence the session of 1875. A peculiar interest
attaches to the selection of the town for thifholding of
the present conference, from the fact that exactly 250
years ago the Mayflower sailed out of Plymouth har-
bour for the New World.

The session commenced on Monday evening by a
sermon preached in George-street chapel, Plymouth,
to a crowded congregation, by the Rev. J. P. Chown,
of London. The discourse, which had special "refe-
rence to the recent Moody and Sankey. revival, was
ha-Jed upon Acts iv., 31st verse—" And when they
had prayed, the place was shaken where they were as-
sembled togetnd they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost, ancry spake the word of God with bold-
ness. ' The late revivalretninded him, said the preacher,
of the work in the Primitive Church alluded to
in the text, the conditions and the means employed
being very similar. The results might, he urged, be
utilised for permanent labour in contributing to the
advance of the Divine glory, such results being con-
sidered in the spirit of prayer that they might en-
kindle a fervent determination on the part of all
who knew the Lord to deepen instramentally the work
in the minds of men, and to extend its influences in
the world around. Amongst the results produced by
the movement, he named the generally awakened
interest in Evangelistic efforts, and thought it might
subserve as a power hitherto unknown. Then there
were a great number of persons whose attention
had been excited, their consciences aroused, and
their minds impressed, but who were still uncon-
verted, and not brought into association and fellowship
with the Churches. These should be brought in. Many
a man who could not preach to twenty people could
speak to a Simeon who should be afterwards blessed to
the conversions of thousands. The movement had
also had great interest and power in relation to the
public press, which had reported the proceedings with
becoming accuracy and propriety thus disseminating
the truth where otherwise it would never have
reached. If these means were rightly used by the
Church he believed the press, the railway, the
post, and the telegraph would assuredly became her
instruments for good till her praise should be de-
clared, and the SaviOiir known the wide world over.
There was also left an amount of devout expectancy in
the minds of many Christians which should be seized
upon. The blessing sought would not come with human
excitement. grandeur, and ceremony, but in Divine
demonstration, and with the power which caused a
world of brightness and a glory to leap out of chaos
and gloom, and to flash back again the smile of the
Divine Creator which rested upon it. In conclusion,
he exhorted to more real and earnest work at all
times, places, and circumstances. He alluded to the
losses the denomination had lately sustained; and
urged them as a reason for immediate special efforts
to extend the Saviour's kingdom.