SOCIAL TEA MEETING— On Thursday a social tea meeting was held in the Independent Wesleyan Sunday Schoolroom, the object being to welcome home Mr. J. M. Denton, of Canada. About 200 persons responded to the invitations that were sent out, and after tea addresses were delivered, the meeting being presided over by Mr. C. Hewitt. Mr. J. M. Denton spoke of the good that was being done in the world by Young Men's Christian Association. He spoke from experience, and could not too strongly recommend all Christian people to encourage to the utmost extent of their power societys which sought to instruct young men in the principles of Christianity, to encourage them when they needed kindly counsel, to lead them on to the goal to which we are all hastening, to strengthen them when weak, and to prevent them from falling by the wayside. His address, which was of a useful character, was listened to throughout with the greatest interest, and, at his close, a few remarks were made by Mr. Ball.

INDEPENDENT WESLEYAN CHAPEL—On Sunday last the anniversary services of the above place were held, when two sermons were preached by Mr. Lambert, in the morning and evening, after which collections were made on behalf of the Trust Fund, and the amount realised was £7 0s. 7d.

On Monday a public tea wan held in the Schoolroom, when about 80 sat down to tea, and in the evening a public meeting was held in the Chapel, Mr. Bailey taking the chair. The following gentlemen delivered addresses suitable for the occasion: Messrs. Lambert, Ball, McGowan, and Burrows. At the close a collection was made, which realised £2.

SPECIAL SERVICES AT THE WESLEYAN CHAPEL— On Sunday last special services in connection with the Wesleyan Chapel were held, the sermons, which were preached by Miss Hart, being listened to by a large congregation. On Tuesday evening the same speaker delivered an address on three points of temperance, to a very meagre audience, which was presided over by Mr. Freeman.

RUSHDEN—ANNIVERSARY SERVICES—On Sunday and Monday last, the anniversary services in connection with the Independent Chapel, Rushden, were held. The services were well attended.

INDEPENDENT WESLEYAN CHAPEL—On Monday a public tea was held in connection with this chapel, which was followed by a public meeting, presided over by the Rev. T. Bromage, of Wellingborough, who spoke of the progress that had been made by the Independent Wesleyan body. No place in the county he said had made so much progress of late years in the commercial world as Rushden, and they were determined that the village should progress as satisfactorily in religious matters.—The Rev. Mr. Fuller, the Rev. Mr. Davis, the Rev. Mr. Peet, and the Rev. Mr. Pung, afterwards delivered interesting addresses.

ANNIVERSARY—On Sunday last, two sermons were preached in the Independent Wesleyan Chapel, Rushden, by the Rev. Mr. Croxford, of Harrold. The same gentleman conducted a children's service in the chapel in the afternoon. The services were well attended. Special hymns were sung by the children, and the amount collected was £12 14s. 7d. On Monday, the 272 scholars and 26 teachers, comprising the school, had tea together in the chapel and schoolrooms, after which about 300 of the public sat down. Tea over, the tea-takers, who were joined by some hundreds more, held the tea fete on the Newton-road, kindly lent by Mr. C. Smart, where cricket and other games were enjoyed; the whole being enlivened with choice music by the Temperance Brass Band.

ANNIVERSARY SERVICES—On Sunday last two sermons were preached in the Independent Wesleyan Chapel by the Rev. C. E. Mees, of Wellingborough, to good congregations, and on Monday a public tea meeting was held in the Schoolroom, about 100 sitting down. In the evening a public meeting was held in the Chapel. Mr. J. Parker presided, and there were also on the platform the Revs. T. Bromage, Wellingborough, J. Rogers, Higham Ferrers, C. E. Mees, Wellingborough, — Fuller, and W. J. Davis, Rushden. The whole of the services were well attended, and collections were made in aid of the chapel funds.

PARENTS' TEA AND MEETING— On Monday, the 27th ult., about 150 parents and teachers belonging to the Independent Wesleyan School, sat down to tea in the schoolroom. After tea a very interesting meeting was held, the room being very crowded. The Rev. T. Bromage presided and opened the meeting with a very appropriate speech, after which Mr. E. Claridge spoke in advocacy of thrift amongst children, and its encouragement; Mr. Warren spoke on the necessity for the co-operation of parents and teachers; Mr. G. Denton spoke on the benefits of exhibition of flowers and work among the children, and Mr. J. Mackness spoke on the work and wages of parents and teachers. Mrs. Bull sang in good style, "Where is my boy to-night." The meeting was closed in the usual way.

INDEPENDENT WESLEYAN CHAPEL—Anniversary services were held in connection with the Independent Wesleyan Sunday School on Sunday last, when three sermons were preached by the Rev. Mr. Roe (Primitive Methodist), in the morning and afternoon in the chapel, and in the evening in the New Hall, which was well filled. The collection in aid of the Sunday School amounted to £12 5s. 4d. Special hymns were sung by the children, and in the evening one composed by Mr. J. Mackness, in memoriam of two scholars who have died during the year—Misses E. Warren and S. Vorley. On Tuesday the annual tea treat was held, when the whole of the scholars, about 220 in number, and about twenty friends, had tea. Arrangements were made for the usual out-door amusements, but the weather not being suitable, a meeting was held in the chapel, when the Rev. J. Fuller presided, and, in his own pleasing and instructive manner, inculcated the duty of teachers to instil into the minds of their scholars the truths of the Gospel. He then at some length related his experience of Sunday School life, and the benefit he derived from it, and concluded by exhorting all to help the weak and raise the fallen. Mr. Ball next addressed the meeting, taking for his motto the instructions to preachers by St. Augustine to be prayerful, faithful, plain, and pleasing, and said if these qualifications were requisite in the preachers, how much more in the Sunday School teacher. Mr. Roe gave a very instructive description of missionary life in Fernando Po. A very pleasant meeting was closed by singing and prayer.

INDEPENDENT WESLEYAN BAND OF HOPE—The annual meeting was held in the Independent Wesleyan Schoolroom on Saturday evening last. After tea, to which a good number of members sat down, the general statement of the society was read, from which it appeared there was a balance of £7 in hand. The following were elected officers for the ensuing year:- President, Mr. James Bull; vice-president, Mr. E. Claridge; secretaries—corresponding Mr. G. Cunnington, financial Messrs. E. Claridge and E. Wrighton; collectors, Misses Bull and Jacques; treasurer, Mr. H. Bull; committee, Messrs. A. Groome, D. Tomlin, W. Button, J. Knight, Misses Mackness, Clarke, and M. Bull. After plans for the better working of the society had been discussed, the evening was spent in a social manner.

INDEPENDENT WESLEYAN BAND OF HOPE— ON Wednesday evening the first meeting for t... was held in the schoolroom, under the pre[sident] Mr. James Bull, when a miscellaneous programme was presented.
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SCHOOL OUTING—On Monday last between 50 and 60 of the teachers and elder scholars of the Independent Wesleyan Sunday Schools proceeded to Souldrop, where they were hospitably entertained by Mr. Denton and Mrs. Brawn.

ANNIVERSARY SERMONS—On Sunday last two sermons were preached in the Independent Wesleyan Chapel by the Rev. W. Watson, of Higham Ferrers. There were good congregations, and the collections amounted to £5 12s. 6d. On Monday a public tea was held in the school when 100 sat down. In the evening a public meeting was held, the Rev. T. Bromage in the chair. After singing and prayer, the Rev. Chairman apologised for the absence of the Rev. G. Pung, owing to illness, and Rev. J. Ball from another engagement, and in opening the meeting expressed the pleasure he felt at being there on the ninth anniversary of the opening of that chapel. He referred to the great work they had to do in that place, which had been a spiritual home to many. There was a debt for £60 on the building at the commencement of those services, but £5 12s. 9d. was collected on Sunday, and it was hoped the profit on the tea and the collection at that service would bring it up to £10, so that the debt would be less by just that amount. There were reasons why the debt should be cleared off now they were in easy circumstances; one was the increase of the Sunday school which rendered more accommodation necessary, the efforts of the teachers being marred and cramped for want of more room. He knew there were difficulties in the way, but they should be removed and it was desirable they should clear the debt off, so as to be free and unencumbered for their future work. He then reviewed the history of the society, remarking that it was 31 years old, having seceded from the old Methodist conference owing to the unhappy dispute in the year 1851. He was pleased to say that although God had been good to them throughout the whole of these years, yet they never stood so well as at present. They had now a membership of 116, having an increase of 18 during the year. That he thought was very encouraging, yet it was not so good as the preceding year, when they had an increase of 33 members. The school is in a very flourishing state, 226 scholars being at present on the books with 33 teachers. A considerable number of the senior scholars had joined the church, this solving in a measure the question of connecting the school with the church. There were senior scholars' classes on the Sunday, and a young men and women's class in connexion with the church met on Thursdays, when they had a social service conducted by Mr. Fuller, and the attendance at all the services was very good. 80 per cent of the congregations were young people, and with so much young life in the church they should exert a powerful influence, and as there was such a development of physical life in the village, he hoped the spiritual would develop in the same ratio. There was not a place in the county that had so much "go" in it as Rushden, and where that was the case sin and wickedness were sure to assert themselves. He thought, however, that the church should be as earnest as the world. The Rev. G. Garlick next addressed the meeting in a very forcible speech on the advantages of the different sections of the church uniting for their mutual benefit. Some very good singing enlivened the meeting, which was concluded in the usual way.

MOTHERS' MEETINGS—On Monday afternoon a mother's tea was held at the Wesleyan Chapel, which was well attended. After tea a public meeting was held in the chapel, when addresses were delivered by the Rev. T. Bromage and others, on the necessity of home influence co-operating with that of the Sunday School.

RECEPTION TEA—On Tuesday last a reception tea was held at the Independent Wesleyan Schoolroom, to welcome the Rev. G. O. Parr, the newly appointed circuit missionary, who paid his first visit to Rushden that day. About 100 persons sat down. A social meeting followed, when congratulatory addresses were given by Messrs. E. Claridge (who introduced the rev. gentleman), J. Jaques (in the chair), G. Denton, J. Bull, J. Mackness, C. Hewitt, and T. Lawson. Mr. Parr afterwards gave an address, in which he reciprocated the kindly wishes that had been expressed, and said he hoped with Divine help to further the Christian work being carried on in the circuit.