circumstances as to interest my readers in their sayings and doings. The building to which I refer is a small but neat Methodist chapel, which must have been built soon after the Iron Duke' fought and beat the tyrant of Europe at the memorable battle of Waterloo. It affords accommodation for three hundred and fifty persons, and formerly belonged to the Belverton Circuit; but for many years past has formed part of the Chelverton Circuit, which supports three ministers.

For a country Circuit, it is generally thought the brethren have not much cause to complain. I may say, in passing, for the benefit of those whom it may concern, the ministers remain in the Circuit the full term allowed; and many of them would remain longer if they could. The congregations are on the whole respectable; made up of well-to-do farmers and tradesmen, with a few professional gentlemen, and a fair attendance of working men with their families. Methodism, without the latter, in any Circuit, is not fulfilling its proper mission. There is an average amount of intelligence, and a few of the families in the Circuit are wealthy, and firmly attached to Methodism. They are not exactly what you term 'members of Society,'-they have an objection to meet in class, but they regularly attend the preaching services and liberally support the cause.

Another very important consideration to the ministers, but especially to the small village congregations, is the able staff of lay preachers, or locals,' as they are generally called. A very superior class of men, on the whole, are the local preachers of Chelverton Circuit, theological backbone men; men that can find their way to the bone,

where they say the sweetest meat is found; men that can crack the bone and give you the marrow. Among them were, and still are, many powerful preachers. Some were old-fashioned men, but at sixty and even seventy years of age they were as straight as a tailor's yard; men of physical and moral stamina; men that Wellington would have seen at a glance had in them the right kind of stuff out of which valiant soldiers are made.

We see them to-day as they used to appear in the pulpit at Hathercott, standing erect, with a snowwhite neckerchief four or five times folded, and then brought round the neck two or three times, and tied in a small knot in front, making the wearer appear as upright as a policeman in uniform; hair cut as though to pattern-said pattern a good-sized basin placed on the head. Powerful men were those old standard-bearers of the Cross; men that could wield the hammer of God's Word like a strong blacksmith at the anvil, as many a stout-hearted sinner in the Chelverton Circuit could testify. Some of those old warriors were born and brought up at Hathercott, and many will be the crowns of their rejoicing when the King reviews the work of His faithful servants.

Of the younger preachers I have not much to say in these pages, except that they were welcomed as the Lord's servants, and met with a warm reception in the Master's name. We shall meet a few of them again, in company with as noble a band of workers as any country Circuit can boast of.

remotest idea of presenting them with my history, cut and dried, and as unrefreshing as chaff without water; but I presume they would like to know something of me before I introduce my acquaintances of Hathercott.

I have been young, but now am old; and that young mental gladiator, Elihu, who undertook to convince Job and his three friends that he was more than a match for all four of them, affirmed that age was the best mouthpiece a man could have. And another thing he did not mind telling them, raw as he was, that 'multitude of years should teach wisdom.'

I can boast of a Methodist ancestry. My grandmother on my father's side was one of the first members of the little Methodist Society at Hathercott. The Church is the richer to-day in many places for her godly influence; and her descendants are bravely battling in many parts of the world to

make the people in it better; some of them filling very important positions. How true are the Psalmist's words, as lord mayors, M.P.s, D.D.s, rich merchants, and others belonging to the Methodist Church can testify: Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth'!

'Born of poor but pious parents; '-such is the reading of some of the old Arminian Magazines, when recording concisely the heroic deeds of some who had fallen on the Methodist battle-field. Squire Dumaine's son was heir to his father's large and rich estate as soon as he made his appearance in Hathercott, and was treated accordingly. The youngest and only son of Thornton and Elizabeth Aubourn was born in a small but neat cottage on the squire's estate. Some of the neighbours thought he seemed inclined to take his departure soon after his arrival in the village, as though things had not turned out exactly as they should have done, and he wished to go where things would be made a little more pleasant. Taking everything into consideration, the neighbours thought this was the best thing that could be done under the circumstances. after keeping them in suspense for some time as to what he meant to do, without the slightest regard for their opinion or wish in the matter, he concluded that it would be as well to remain where he was, and make the best of the crook in the lot.'

But

Benjamin Aubourn, youngest son of the aforesaid Thornton and Elizabeth Aubourn, was presented by his parents, when a few weeks old, to the children's Friend and Saviour in baptism, in the Methodist chapel at Hathercott. The old members say it was

a solemn time: scarcely a dry eye was to be seen in the unusually large congregation present on that occasion.

The Rev. Paul Terseley had just finished his probationary term and been received into full connexion. No sooner was the Ordination Charge delivered, than he rushed off to Minster church, in the county of Cheshire, and was joined in the 'bonds of holy matrimony' to Clarissa Ventner, daughter of T. V. Ventner, Esq., of the firm of Winsford, Ventner, and Co. It fell to his lot to perform the ceremony of baptism in the case before us; and, for one so young, it was gratifying to the congregation to see him so thoughtful and grave. As this was the first child he had sprinkled in the name of the Trinity, and having a prospective turn of mind, he could not get through the service without showing symptoms of nervousness. However, taking in his arms young Aubourn, who gave unmistakable evidence that he had no wish to be received into the Church in that way, Mr. Terseley, while sprinkling the water, solemnly repeated the words, 'Benjamin Aubourn, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' Then giving the child to his mother, he said,-and the old members say it was an unpremeditated address, the like of which had never been heard in their chapel before,'My dear friends, train your child for the Master. I doubt not that your prayers have ascended with the prayers of God's people this evening, that the great Head of the Church would be pleased to pour upon this child His rich and saving grace in his youthful days. Your responsibility is a grave one, but prayer and faith will enable you to do your duty. Try and view your child in the light of what he may