Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1869-01-08 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THOMAS'S CHURCH SCRIPTURN RILADNR AND PARISH MISSION ASSOCIATION. " RZPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1868. "The committee, in presenting their first annual report, congratulate the subscribers on the efficient state of the mission. From the weekly reports furnished by Mr Cockersole, the Scripture Reeder, and the copious and faithful notes which appear in his journal, it is evident that he has been most attentive to his duties, and there is ample ground for believing, so far as men can judge, that his labours have in many cases been specially blessed and prospered. The committee feel the more justified in entertaining this belief from the fact that Mr Cocker. sole's practice has been to make passing notes of individual cases from time to time, and only to record them in his journal when he became reasonably convinced, from subsequent experience, that a permanent spiritual change had taken place. The copunittee, however, prefer to dwell less upon the spiritdal results attained (of which it is always difficult to form a correct estimate) ' than on the duties which Mr Cockersole has been enabled to discharge during the past yeas, feeling confident that the good seed he has sown cannot all be lost. "The work of the year may be summarised as under :- " Number of visits 4,500 (General visits 1,625 Being Special visits, chiefly to the aged, sick, and dying -- -- 4,500 "The general visits included "Of whom there were Church-going families , 834 "Roman Catholics ' "Dissenters 637 "Attending no place of worship 159 1,728 "Of the children in the houses visited an account was kept from the Ist 'of January to the 16th of May (being the period covered by Mr Cockensole's first completed general visit of the parish), which shows that of children " There were attending Church day.  ?,875  schooh . 403 "Church Sunday-schools " Roman Catholic and Dissenting weekday schools "Ditto on Sundays ... " Ragged School ... "No echos'  2 299 53 173  -- 1,378 "Of the 2,875. persons specially visited, 42 have died during the year. "The visits above recorded include the Alms-houses, rose, ' have been visited monthly, and the Cottage pi I, which has been visited weekly. "T irty.three poor persons have been assisted with mone , kindly furnished to the Scripture Reader by the Vica ' out of the communion alms. " Four hundred and seventy pounds of bred have also been given away by the Curates and Scripture Reader to distressed families, out of funds supplied by this mission. "Four thousand tracts have been distributed.  "A Bible class for working men was foruirsl by Mr Cookersole, at the beginning of the year, and rneeta weekly at the Blue Coat School. "The Qeminittee are also happy to state that anothrr result of Mr Cockersole's labours has been that many persons have been induced to attend the Church services who had not been in the habit of doing so; and through his instrumentality the number of children attending the Church Sunday schools has been rpeatly increased.  " The Vicar and his Curates bear willing testimony to the efficient help r Cockersole has rendered them in the work of their pastorate, and to the promptitude with which he has brought special cases under their notioe, while his kind manner and seasonable counsel have rendered him an acceptable visitor amongst the poor. He expresaea great gratification at the ready welcome he has met with during his visits, and the becoming manner in which, upon the whole, his rebukes, exhortations, and prayera have been received. •' The Committee trust that a mission which has accomplished so muck during it. first year may not ',lily reasonably count upon, a continuance of its present subscriptions, but also may appeal successfully to other Churchmen who have not yet given it their support. An increased yearly income is much to be desired, as it would enable the Committee to establish the mission on a permanent basis, and also to extend and improve it. operations.  " By order of the Committee, "T. CROSBY, Bon. Sec. "January. 1869." The report, which seemed to give gnat satisfaction, was unanimously passed, and, together with the treasurer's statement, ordered to be printed. The latter showed a small balance in the treasurer's hands. The appointment of officers was next proceeded with, and the old officers were re-appointed, with the exception of Mr Byers, the treasurer (resigned), in whose stead Mr Craddock was substituted, and Mr Ralph Graham su,. stituted for Mr Roinyn, who has left the town. Some tiiffing alterations were made in the rules. After the meeting was over, a long and interesting conversation followed on several important church and parish matter., and a general desire was expressed for the formation of a Church Institute and Reading Room, and we believitthe project will be immediately set on foot.  An extraordinary attempt at murder and suicide wa% made at Kilmarnock on New Year's Day. A man, named Drummond, and his wife had been drinking, and the former threw a ean of gunpowder into the fire, with the intention of blowing himself and her to nieces. The explosion did wlne damage to the room in which it took place, but neither the man nor the woman wu seriously injured. The, man, however, is in custody, on the.obarge of attempted murder.