A WALK IN CHELTENHAM.

A REVIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN CHELTENHAM, INCLUDING SOME OF ITS MINISTERS, THE LATE W. LEWIS, JAMES SMITH, JOHN FREEMAN, J. E. BLOOMFIELD, J. E. CRACKNELL, FRANK GRIFFIN, MASTER JONES, AND OTHERS.

AFTER preaching twice yesterday (May 19th) in Bethel Chapel, Cheltenham, I took a little walk through some of the beautiful parts of the most elegant, yet rather rural, and floricultural, horticultural, and shrubbery-like city. As a casual, yet careful observer of the externals, I said to myself, "If holiness, health, and happiness, three grand essentials, are anywhere to be found in this country, surely they must be found in Cheltenham."

Cheltenham, sir," said one friend, "is the queen of all the watering places!" Indeed! "Cheltenham, sir,' 19 said a native, "is the garden of England!" Oh! Ah! I should think so; but a London lady, who is obliged to live in Cheltenham, said to me, "The people are pious, proud, and over-bearing." Perhaps none of these were strictly faithful witnesses; but each one spoke a little under the influence of prejudiced and ex-parte feeling. Be that as it may, I certainly think, for scenery of hill and dale, for the situation of its villas, the beauty and abundance of its trees, the aristocratic openness and cleanliness, the whiteness and tenderness of its roads, its streets, its walks, and its promenades, it is a first-class place; its colleges, its churches, its chapels and schools, its doctors of divinity, its students and its gentry-all, all, look pious, and very far separated from anything approaching to the fruits of the fall. There is only one thing I should say-only one GOOD thing that will not grow or thrive very nicely here—that is, the pure and unmixed GOSPEL of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. I come not to this conclusion simply because I did not have a thousand people to hear me, but I come to the conclusion because the whole history of the place proves it. A review of the progress of religion, a retrospect of the changes, the comings and shiftings, the livings and dyings, the divisions and departures, the excitements and extinctions of churches, minister's supplies and preachers-all go to prove that the eternal, the unalterable, the essential, and the heaven-originating and spirit-revealing truth of God, has many times made some entry into this

highly artistical, and naturally attracting resort of the learned and the elite, but never has it been able to stand out in bold and blessed successfulness, because it is said the people are professedly and determinedly the friends of the Arminian, free-will, and creature-helping creed.

As I was in a brown study, looking after the post-office, a gentleman introduced himself to me, and after a few formalities, we commenced a rather long walks and talk, on the past and the present of the religious aspects of Cheltenham; and certainly, from this gentleman I learned much which tended to show how very little of real honest, vital, and enduring godliness he had found in the lives and labours of the men and the ministers who had made up, and who do yet make up, THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES OF CHELTENHAM.

I ought to say for myself, I had a good day here yesterday; I did pray earnestly for Divine help; and both in the morning and evening, light, liberty, spiritual solemnity, gladness and joy, possessed my soul. Three ministerial brethren were present: Mr. Cardwell, of Gloucester; Mr. Jacob Short, of Foxcote; and Mr. R. Snaith, of the Forest of Dean, also came to cheer me; and Mr. Snaith, in the evening, read the word, expounded, and prayed most fervently; and I hope the Lord's blessing was upon the services; although no one said a word either good, bad, or otherwise. So we met peaceably, and so we parted.

Bethel Chapel, Cheltenham, stands near the Great Western Railway Station. It is, I believe, the only chapel in all the town where the whole of the doctrines and discipline of the New Testament is maintained; although a few of The Standard people have a room; but Bethel is really the mother of the Baptist churches here.

Now, I will review my walk on the morning of May 20, 1867.

The first thing which particularly arrested my attention was the erection of an iron church or chapel which I had seen in passing down the Bath road; and after a few preliminaries, my friend who joined me informed me the newly-erected place of worship was for the congregation meeting in connection with Mr. Jones. Who is this Mr. Jones?"

He is not the Thomas Jones of Blackheath, who is to preach at Bethel next Sunday. This Mr. Jones, for whom this new chapel is being built, was once the minister of the old Baptist chapel at Glems

ford. He was recommended to the church at Bethel by Mr. J. E. Bloomfield; and as Mr. Bloomfield was once the pastor of Bethel, as Mr. Bloomfield was a minister greatly beloved in Cheltenham, and of great use in the villages all around, and as Mr. Bloomfield has ever evinced the utmost desire to see Bethel prosper as once it did prosper, the church at Bethel thankfully accepted Mr. Bloomfield's recommendation, invited Mr. Jones, and soon he was the settled pastor and minister of Bethel; the chapel was filled, and all looked bright and blooming."

"Did Mr. Jones come immediately after Frank Griffin?"

"Very soon after."

'Why did not Frank Griffin stay in Cheltenham ?"

"I will tell you presently. We were now inside the walls of this new building, which I suppose will be finished in a few weeks; and it is rumoured that Mr. Bloomfield will come and open it; if so, it will be a high day for the friends of the new cause, for many hundreds in these parts of Gloucestershire love John Bloomfield with all their hearts, and are always glad to see him here. Whether he will sanction this new encampment remains to be

seen.

"But why did not Mr. Jones stay at Bethel ?"

"Ah! that will appear in due time. Mr. Jones is a young man of considerable ability, of much zeal, and of enlarged views, and charitable people think the pulpit at Bethel, the deeds and creed of Bethel, and some of the good people in Bethel were all of a compass too limited for a heart and mind so expansive and liberal as Mr. Jones possesses. But what staggers me (and my friend grew warm here) is the fact that men of many years' standing-men who have professed faith in the good old-fashioned doctrines of CHRIST'S GOSPEL nearly all their life, have left Bethel, and have gone to help on this new cause. Mr. Cracknell's leaving Cambray did not surprise me. I can show you how that came about presently. Frank Griffin not continuing here, did grieve, but not amaze me. Mr. Jones' departure from Bethel is perfectly natural; but the falling away of some of the old pillars is to me a great mystery.

"There is some good to come out of it, no doubt."

"Are you a member of Bethel ?"

"Oh, no. I often go to church. The Rev. Mr. Lillingstone is a sound man; he preaches at Trinity; he is another Toplady, and Dr. Hawker is one more. more of him bye-and-bye-when we have Dr. Walker, a preacher of the old Gospel.

But

Cheltenham, sir, is NOT without the Gospel yet!"

[Subsequently, I had the entire history of the rise and progress of the Gospel from the time when there was only one old parish church in Cheltenham, and a barn wherein a few devout folks, there to worship God according to the New Testament order. This barn was improved from time to time. At length little Bethel Chapel was erected on the same site. It has been enlarged and improved. Its history, and the history of its ministers, its children, its divisions, its neighbours, &c. &c., we hope to give entire.-ED.]

SOHO CHAPEL, AND MR. PELLS' FRIENDS.-In consequence of a statement appearing in The Gospel Guide, and EARTHEN VESSEL for April, page 132; your correspondent, "S. M.," states that most that joined under the late pastor have gone, and the cause has got down very low indeed. I should like to ask "S. M.," through your columns, if he will give us the number of those who joined under our late pastor, who are still left amongst them, for I think if he would count the number of Pellites, as they sit round the table of the Lord's Supper, they would form a large number of those who, generally, nearly fill the body of the chapel on such occasions. Your correspondent also states that the cause had got down very low. We find that when a church is long without a pastor, the cause gradually gets low. It was the same when Mr. Pells came amongst us; the chapel was thinly attended indeed, but the dear Lord blessed his labours and the cause soon began to look cheering, and if I mistake not, before he was recognised as the pastor of the church, he led several down to the baptismal pool, and the chapel was getting well attended, there have been a good number of those who have left us, who have been removed by Providence, and have joined churches of the same faith and order, one or two fell back into the world which is always the case where a good number are being added from time to time, which proves the saying of our Master. Several left on account of what took place in the church, concerning Mr. Baugh and Mr. Crumpton. But still, after all that have gone. I think there are a goodly number left; if not, how is it that, after being without a pastor two years or more, we were enabled to keep the doors of the chapel open, and that without being in debt, although the cause was brought down so low. But we cannot say that now, since our new pastor has been amongst us, and has it is stated

things are reviving, the chapel has been partly painted, which incurred a little debt; but instead of doing has we have done since the time of Mr. Coombe, the first pastor, by having special sermons and collections to remove the debt, under the new management they bring in lectures and dissolving views, and this too upon the week nights appointed for the preaching of the Gospel, and after finding they did not get sufficient they have adopted the collecting-card; but we are afraid that many of the old and even young members of the late pastor will have to leave, and join other churches, or open a place for themselves, for they are getting quite tired of the system which is now going on, for ofttimes we have a lecture instead of the Gospel. Oh! what a sad state of things. Oh! that it were the reverse.--A PELLITE.

BETHNAL GREEN AND SOUTH HACKNEY EVANGELICAL MISSION. An important meeting connected with the above movement, was held in Squirries street chapel, Bethnal green road, London, on Tuesday, May 14th. An inaugural sermon, descriptive of the source, nature, and varied manifestations of divine life, was delivered by the editor of the Christian Dial, Mr. Isaac Pegg, of Cheltenham, in the afternoon, to the expressed satisfaction and pleasure of the hearers, among whom we noticed the ministerial brethren C. W. Banks, J. Flory, J. Dixon, &c. Subsequently, tea was provided. The general meeting commenced about seven o'clock, by singing two hymns, and the brethren Dixon, Banks, and Raye, engaged in prayer. Mr. C. W. Banks proposed, and Mr. Webster seconded, it being carried nem dis., that "our valued and esteemed friend Mr. Pickworth occupy the chair." Mr. Pickworth in laying before the meeting the object of the friends of C. W. Banks, stated, there was a resolution to lay before the meeting, and he believed Mr. Banks would explain everything. He only regretted that this meeting was not held in the Surrey Tabernacle. He had been a long time connected with what was called the "Vessel" and "Standard" party, into which sections our Particular Baptist brethren were divided; and there was also, he supposed, the "herald" party, but the time was come for union. There was only one Church, and they should act as if there was not. We were too supine. He believed in practical godliness. We were not to hide our light under a bushel. We were to unite in spreading the truth. When Paul was converted, he did not become indifferent, he went forth preaching the truth. When the leper was healed, he went and told his kinsfolk. God called his people, not to sleep, but to labour in his vineyard. Some people seemed to think if they were saved, nobody else was

of consequence. Practical godliness taught them otherwise. C. W. Banks had been a practical man in preaching and in writing the truth. And it was, he (Mr. Pickworth) found, no easy task to get Gospel tracts. Hé tried the other day, and had some trouble. We wanted some good narrative tracts. Now Mr. Banks had spread the truth, and deserved support. C. W. BANKS was then introduced to the meeting by the chairman. He said, he was pleased to meet his friends at that meeting, for there was a good spirit, a happy spirit, and a loving spirit pervaded it. The little sermon he should preach to them, had three divisions:-(1.) Squirries street. (2.) St. Thomas's Hall. (3.) Bethnal green Tabernacle. First, there was Squirries street. They knew the various circumstances that had brought him there. And now he found it killing work to keep there. Standing in that pulpit, a man ininhaled all the hot breaths of the people. He could not retain his health, and do it. Besides, if the school commenced therewas to be carried on, it was too small for the congregations. In consequence of this, many people would not come; and others, through its distance from them, could not come. St. Thomas's hall was to be let. The man concerned in letting it, told C. W. B. he was anxious it should be used for purposes beneficial to the people. Mr. Banks asked what time he might have to deliberate about hiring it, and was told a week, or a fortnight. During that time, he laid the matter before the church. Not one said stop. However, some remained by the whole place, and some went with him. What was to be done with Squirries street chapel? was the next question; for they will please to understand the responsibility of carrying on both that place and St. Thomas's hall, devolved upon him. Squirries street chapel will cost any man who carries it on, at least £40 a-year before he can have a penny for himself. Doubtless, had it been advertised, it would soon have been cleared off his hands; but then, he made up his mind not to let a lot of Arminians have it. There is the old Surrey Tabernacle, they have got that, and they say, "Ah, we are the people that should have that." Now they preach against the very truths proclaimed there before, and he did not mean they should do that here; so he was carrying this on as a sort of Mission station, and sending such good men as he could get. Now we come to St. Thomas's hall. I went forward and took the hall, and opened it. A gentleman said to me, "I am glad you are come here, for there is not such a thing as a Baptist cause of truth in all South Hackney." I hope I can say the Lord has sanctioned our meeting in the Hall. I have been very ill, but have been helped. When we can, we will leave the Hall for the New Tabernacle. All the money received towards that building is placed in the bank, in the Treasurer's name, and there will be deposited all future contributions. All contributions for St.

Thomas's hall, Mr. Chas. Longley will receive. With regard to the Tabernacle, we thought we had secured a site to build it on. The Crown agent offered to allow us six or seven years to build it in, and we thought it was all right; documents were drawn up, and got ready, and we were told we must go and sign it in the presence of the Chief Commissioner. To him, Mr. Mace and I went. He told us we must agree to complete the building in eighteen months. I dared not sign such an agreement, I refused. There the matter now rests. If our friends will help us, we hope shortly, even now to build the Tabernacle. MR. WEBSTER, of Cave Adullam chapel, then moved the following resolution:-That this meeting sympathises with our brother C. W. Banks, in his efforts to spread the truth in Hackney, and also in Squirries street. It also sympathises with his efforts towards the same end through the press. And it stands pledged to accord him all the assistance it can." Mr. W. had lived to learn to say Jehovah Jireh; and though by the death of a dear partner he had lost half his income, he could still say Jehovah Jireh. He believed Mr. Banks would be able to say Jehovah Jireh. He most heartily moved the resolution. Mr. ISAAC PEGG on rising to second the motion, said: Mr. Chairman, and dear friends, it affords me considerable satisfaction and pleasure to second the motion before you. The world is already occupied by the imposing legions of darkness, and it is time that God's people should rally unitedly round Calvary's unfurled banner, to "contend earnestly for the truth. Golden baits drew men into Arminian and Fullerite nets, and it was time to honour those who were not seduced. It had been long enough the practice to use our brother as workman use their tools,-use him to raise their own fabrics, and then throw him aside. No man had been assailed with posioned arrows more than he, yet there he was prepared to repeat the same tale of election love, devising effectual salvation for vile and helpless sinners. I honour such men. Such a man was Luther, who, going to Worms to meet the Pope's delegate, being dissuaded, said, "If all the tiles on the houses in Worms were devils I'd go." Such a spirit caused him to write

Though the whole world with devils
swarmed,

That threatened me to swallow;
I will not fear, for I am armed,

And victory must follow.

I dare the devil's might,

His malice, craft, and spite,
The Word of God must conquer."

There was a secret to the success of Pope and Pusey. It was found in unity. You have heard of the far-famed Lacedæmonian phalanx. It was a compact mass of armed men, and conquered everywhere, because combined. That is the case with error in our day. If Serle could write, surely we may;

"Where'er thy cause,

Thy truth, and laws,
To own, my duty be;
From fear of shame,
Or love of fame,

Good Lord, deliver me."

And I second the resolution, Sir, because I find my brother is not tired of preaching the truth. I declare, when crushed by the people, snubbed by the magnates, and dark in my own soul, I have paled like a coward, but I pray God to keep me to the work, and satisfy me in it. Whitefield, on one occasion. when in America, while in company with an aged brother minister, asked him if he was not glad the time of his departure drew nigh. He received no answer. A like success followed-a repetition of the question. Then Whitefield raising his voice, said, "My brother, I insist upon an answer. Are you not glad you shall soon go home?" "No," exclaimed the aged saint, "if I sent a man to plough my field, and at noontide he came to me and said, 'Master, the sun is hot, and these clods heavy, let me go home;' I should call him a lazy fellow. And do you not think Christ would have a right to charge me with laziness if I were anxious to quit his vineyard?" Go on my brother; aim to do God's work, in God's way, in God's time, by God's help. I support this resolution, Sir, because I wish to see truth spreading. Spread the truth, it will win its own way. Doubts, fears, delays, may dishearten us, but not destroy the truth we spread. A man once cut a tract into pieces, and scattered the fragments as he sailed up the river. A fragment lighted on another passing boat, and was picked up. Three words were written on it, "death, hell, eternity." Through them a soul was awakened, and, ultimately, brought to a Saviour's feet. Armies always have banners; on them used to be inscribed a motto. I will give you one:-"Let us, therefore, come boldly to a throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Those who seek mercy are convicted criminals. We come as such. We who seek grace are needy. This we Yet the right to come to God is need not merit; therefore, we come boldly. We come to the throne of grace. Apart from the enthronement of a resurrected Saviour, there is no such place. We can say―

are.

of

'His oath, his promise, and his blood, Support me in the raging flood; When every earthly prop gives way, This still is all my hope, and stay. On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand." Our brother Banks incurs an expense £100 a-year. Help him; not only vote now, but act in the future. A people who will not pay for, are unworthy of the Gospel. Those who stint God's servants, shall themselves be starved. A labouring man once said, "If ever I had any money, I would give the tenth to God's cause." Soon after £40,000 was left him, and he felt £4,000 was too much to give to that