| 2. A neat, commodious, little chapel was opened for divine worship at Bishop-stoke, in the Botley Mission, Hampshire, on Sunday, December 24th, and the opening services were continued on Christmas day. On each day brother Francis Martin delivered very appropriate, interesting, and delightful discourses; on Sunday, at 2½ and 6; and on Monday, at 10½, and 2 o'clock. On the latter day there was a public tea, and after the tea, a public meeting which was addressed, by the writer, sister Biggs, and brother Martin; and the presence of God was graciously felt in our midst. The people being poor, the collections were as good as we could expect. In brother Martin's concluding remarks, lie proposed for the friends to take cards and to give or beg for the funds of the chapel, and they there and then promised to take cards and give, or collect, the sum of six pounds, on or before Christmas-day next. The debt remaining on the chapel is about £44. The chapel is a substantial brick building, covered with slate, wood floor, 21 feet by 18, and 12 feet high from the floor, fitted up with back seats; 40 sittings are let. Brother E. Pearce, a local preacher with us, first went to Bishop-stoke, and preached the gospel under some trees, near the church yard, and the Dean's house. Only few attended to hear; others followed, and the word preached reached one sinner's heart, who has since been converted to God, and is now a member of society among us: to God be all the praise. The preaching continued there, till a woman suggested to the Missionary, if he would come down on the common, which is about half-a-mile from the church village, and preach there, more would attend, as there are many inhabitants. Accordingly it was published, and the next Sabbath the preaching commenced, but there also the people were very timid in attending to hear the truth of the gospel. They would come and just peep round the corner, and then back again, as if some monster were come amongst them. In the course of time they came and stood at a distance, and heard for themselves; and the preaching continued in the open air till the winter set in, when the question was proposed, whether any person would open their door for preaching, or the preaching must be discontinued. There were a few that were sorry that it should be given up, yet they were afraid to open their doors. Mrs. Benham thought that they had no need to be afraid of the parson, as they never received any thing from him; yet she wondered if they were good people, as her husband did not ask them to their house. At length her mind was worked up to such a pitch, that she opened it to her husband, and he said his only objection was he was afraid it would displease Mr. Chamberlain his landlord, as he was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Association. They asked him; he was quite agreeable, and has since given the land to build the Chapel on. Our friends Mr. and Mrs. Benham opened their door for preaching, and it was continued there till the chapel was opened. They have done all they could to make both preachers and people comfortable, and since the room became too small to contain the Congregation, Sister Benham has opened their next room door, and taken in some of the females to make room for others. And in addition to all the good that has been previously done, four souls have been hopefully converted to God during the last quarter. May they prove faithful until death, for Christ's sake. Amen. |