ANNUAL REPORTS OF DISTRICT UNIONS AND LOCAL BRANCHES. The President and Council have received the following Reports from Committees of District Unions and Local Branches, in compliance with Rule 62, in addition to the 70 which appeared in C. U. G. for June, and 5 more which appeared in C. U. G. for July :— CAMBRIDGE DISTRICT UNION. A Meeting of Members of the E. C. U. was held in the Guildhall, Cambridge, on Monday, October 30, 1876, at which the Organizing Secretary was present, when it was unanimously agreed that a District Union be formed to include the Cambridge, St. Ives (Hunts), Burwell and Newmarket, and Newport (Essex) Branches, and any other Branches that may hereafter be formed in Cambridgeshire, and that the District Union so formed be called the "Cambridge District Union." The first General Meeting of the District Union was held in the Guildhall, Cambridge, on Monday, February 12, at which a Draft of Rules drawn up by a Sub-committee, and approved by the Council, was adopted as the Rules of the District Union. At this Meeting Resolutions were carried to the following effect: (1.) Approving the Resolutions adopted at the Special General Meeting of the Union held at Freemasons' Tavern on Jan. 15, 1877. (2.) Expressing sympathy with the Rev. Arthur Tooth and the congregation of S. James's, Hatcham. (3.) That a subscription list be opened among the Members of the District Union in aid of the charities of the Church and parish of S. James's, Hatcham. £25 was forwarded to the Rev. W. H. Browne from the District Union. One advantage resulting from this reorganization of the Union in the District has been the increase of numbers consequent upon the formation of the Burwell and Newmarket Branch. The District Union having been so recently formed, the Committee have only the proceedings of this Meeting to report to the Council. SOUTH LONDON DISTRICT UNION. During the twelve months, from April, 1876, to April, 1877, the South London District Union has held 3 Committee Meetings, and has celebrated its first Anniversary Festival. At this latter, Evensong was sung at the Church of S. Peter, Vauxhall, on July 29, and a Sermon was preached by the Rev. H. Wisherby, of S. Leonard's, Streatham; and the next morning there were Celebrations of the Holy Communion at the various churches connected with the District Union, and in the evening the Annual Meeting of the District Union was held in S. Peter's Schools, an account of the proceedings at which appears in the C. U. G. for Angust, 1876, p. 223. On Monday, the 12th February, 1877, a large and important Meeting of the District Union was held in the Schools at. tached to the Church of S. John the Divine, Kennington, for the purpose of endorsing the Resolutions passed at the Specia General Meeting of the Union, held at Freemasons' Tavern,l on January 16, and of proposing a vote of sympathy with the Rev. A. Tooth. A full Report of this Meeting was published in the Camberwell and Peckham Times of the 17th February. A letter containing the terms of this vote of sympathy was accordingly prepared and was to have been taken to Horsemonger Lane Gaol, by the President and Secretary, on Monday, the 19th; but the Rev. A. Tooth, having been liberated on the previous Saturday, the letter was forwarded to Mr. Tooth hrough the Rev. H. N. Browne, late Assistant Priest of St. James', Hatcham. BATH BRANCH. This Branch numbers at the present time 184 Members and Associates on its Roll. 30 have joined during the past year, and 9 names have been lost through removal from the District and other causes, leaving a nett gain of 21. During the past twelve months the Branch has held four Ordinary Meetings, in accordance with its Rules, and has had the advantage of hearing some valuable papers read by Rev. G. Tugwell and Mr. C. W. Oliver on the subject of 'Lay Help.' Votes of sympathy have been passed and sent to Rev. A. Tooth and Captain Lowrie, and a vote of condolence sent to Mrs. Hugo on the loss which she and the Church of England have sustained in the sudden death of Rev. T. Hugo. A public Lecture has been delivered in Bath under the auspices of the Branch by Rev. Prebendary Sadler, Rector of Honiton, on "The Continuity of the Church." The Committee bought copies of the new Daily News. paper, the Daily Express, and sent one to every Member of the Branch, urging him to take it regularly. CROYDON BRANCH. This Branch has made a nett gain of 30 men and 12 women during the 12 months, ending April 30, 1877. The numbers on the roll at that date were 66 men and 56 women-total 122. There have been 3 Meetings of the Branch besides the Anniversary Meeting, which was held in November, and which was largely attended, as also were the Services in connection with the Anniversary, which were held in the Churches of S. Saviour and S. Michael, at Croydon. The Committee have held 5 Meetings during the year, one of which was a Special Meeting for the purpose of considering the proposed formation of an "E. C. U. Sustenation Fund for Priests." Two very interesting Papers have been read before the Branch by one of its Members, W. J. Nation, Esq.-The one "Some aspects of the Catholic Revival," the other on "Symbolism." on The Rev. T. Outram Marshall gave an able Lecture on the Work of the English Church Union at the Aunual Meeting in November. GREAT YARMOUTH BRANCH. This Branch was established on May 12, 1876, when a Meeting was held at the Secretary's Office, which was attended and addressed by Rev. T. Outram Marshall, the Organizing Secretary of the Union, and also by one of the Vice-Presidents and by the Secretary of the Norfolk District Union. Previous to that time there were only 2 Members of E. C. U. resident in the town; but owing to the formation of the Branch there are now 18. Officers have been duly elected and Rules adopted. The Branch has sustained a great loss in the removal of Rev. Dr. Mangan, who has been appointed to the charge of the Parish of S. Mildred, at Canterbury. A Public Meeting of the Branch was held in the Town Hall, on Nov. 21, 1876, when a very able Lecture was delivered by Rev. Dr. Belcher, Vicar of S. Faith's, Stoke Newington, on "The work of the Priesthood and of the Laity in the English Church." The Meeting was largely attended by the general public, and was fully reported in the local Press. The Branch met again on Feb. 13, when the policy pursued by the E. C. U. with reference to the "Hatcham Case" was considered, and heartily approved; the three Resolutions agreed on at the Special General Meeting of the Union, held in Freemasons' Tavern, on Jan. 16, being unanimously adopted by the Branch. LEICESTER BRANCH. The number of Members on the Roll has increased by 8. The most important Meeting during the past year was a Special one, held on Feb. 15, for the consideration of certain Resolutions passed by the E. C. U. in London, and submitted for the approval of the various Branches. The Meeting was well attended, considering the necessary haste in which it was called, and the hour at which it had to be held. The action of the Meeting in London was heartily backed up by this Branch, each of the Resolutions having been carried unanimously. NEWBURY BRANCH. The numbers of the Branch have increased during the past year. Since the Anniversary held at Thatcham, on July 4, 1876, when there was a large and influential gathering, the Newbury Branch has been engaged in considering important Church questions submitted to it by the President and the Council such as the Reform of Convocation, the Burials Question, and the present relations of the Church to the Secular Power, and other kindred topics. A Lecture was delivered at Newbury, on February 6, by the Rev. R. W. Enraght, Incumbent of the Church of the Holy Trinity, at Birmingham, on the "Principles of the Reformation," which was numerously attended. The members of this Branch have during the past year obtained signatures to petitions for the Repeal of the Public Worship Regulation Act, and against Mr. Osborne Morgan's Burial Bill, and other measures which are detrimental to the best interests of the Church of England, and this they have endeavoured to do in a temperate and conciliatory manner, striving to give no offence to those of their brother Churchmen who may desire to arrive at the same end, viz., the spiritual and temporal welfare of our common mother the Church of England, by other methods which better approve themselves to their particular lines of thought. WEST BROMWICH BRANCH. During the past year, which is the fifth of the existence of the Branch, 20 persons have been added to the Roll, making the numbers in the Branch 132. Three Ordinary Meetings have been held during the year. The first was held on November 21, 1876, in S. John's Schools, when Rev. H. N. Churton gave an interesting Lecture on "Parochial Associations of the E. C. U.," and the following Resolution was carried: "That a Parochial Association be formed for the District of S. John, and that all the Communicants of the District be invited to enrol themselves therein." The next Meeting was a combined Meeting of the Branch and of the newly-formed Parochial Association, and was held on January 9, 1877, in S. John's Schools. On this occasion a Lecture was given by Rev. C. H. V. Pixell, Curate of Christ Church, Wolverhampton, on "The Prosecutions instituted The following Resolution was unanimously adopted : under the P. W. R. Act." WINCHESTER AND HURSLEY BRANCH. The numbers on the roll of this Branch have increased to 66, the increase consisting entirely of Members. Four quarterly Ordinary Meetings and one Annual Meeting and Commemoration have been held during the year, and 3 Committee Meetings. The attendance at these Meetings has been larger than in former years. Reports of the proceedings thereat have duly appeared in the C. U. G. Numerous Petitions on various matters of importance have been signed by the Members and by other Churchmen, whose signatures have been obtained through the instrumentality of the Branch. General Intelligence. 0 THE TITLE, "PROTESTANT CHURCH." WE rejoice to hear that our very practical Brethren and Fellow Churchmen in America are beginning to see the anomaly of retaining the word "Protestant" as part of the style and title of their Branch of the Church. We learn from the Literary Churchman that the Convention of the Diocese of Iowa, U.S., has passed the following sensible Resolution : "That this Convention memorialize the General Conven tion, asking that the words Protestant Episcopal' be stricken from the present title of the American Branch of the Holy Catholic Church, and that it be henceforth called simply by its true name-The Church in the United States of America,' or 'The American Church.'" MEMORIAL WINDOWS.-Messrs. Mayer and Co., of Munich, and 70, Grosvenor-street (Bond-street), London, solicit inspection of their collection of Stained-Glass Windows, in pictorial and medieval styles. On receiving approximate dimensions of any contemplated window they forward, free of any charge, suitable designs on approbation. NAMES OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION AS MEMBERS OR ASSOCIATE-MEMBERS. (TO BE SUBMITTED FOR ELECTION AT THE END OF AUGUST). prefixed to the Name of any person signifies that he is Nominated as an Associate-Member. + prefixed signifies that the person IS ALREADY an Associate-Member of the Union, and desires now to be elected as a Member. NAME. Alexander, Thomas *Cloud, James *Daniel, Charles *Howse, James Smith, Rev. J. Newton +Spearing, Owen Stevens, John Streeten, Rev. F. L. Thompson, Henry C. *Tong, Wallace J. Tooth, Rev. W. A. Vize, Thomas Charles *Watchurst, James E. *Walker, Henry Marriott *Watts, Arthur *Wheeldon, Thomas *Wilkins, George Wilson, John A. E. *Wintle, W. J. ADDRESS. Victoria Cottage, Old Charlton Snareston, Ashby-de-la-Zouch Ash Cottage, Vine-road, East Moulsey 11, Torriano-avenue, Camden-road, N.W. Pakenham School, Bury S. Edmund's 1, Wood-street, Woolwich George-street, Kidderminster 2, Devon-terrace, Swansea High-street, Ely 3, Albion-gardens West, Hammersmith, W. 61, Montpelier-road, Peckham, S.E. 17, Rufford-road, Fairfield, Liverpool 9, King William-terrace, Exeter 1 to 8, Gresham-street West, E.C. Great Berkhamsted, Herts 44, Herbert-street, Cheetham, Manchester Montgomery-place, Trinity-road, Upper Tooting Southam, Warwickshire Building-fields, Bexley Montague House, East Moulsey Oak Villa, Blakebrook, Kidderminster S. Barnabas, Pimlico, S.W. 36, Fenchurch-street, E.C. 12, Norham-road, Oxford 10, Strathmore-gardens, Kensington 8, Summer-place, Kidderminster 47, Amherst-road East, Hackney Thelnetham Rectory, Harling, Norfolk The Gore, Bournemouth 5, S. George's-square, Primrose-hill, N.W. Twyford House, Canterbury-road, Foresthill, S.E. 11, Porchester-road, Bayswater, W. Pewsey, Wilts 11 and 12, Great Tower-street, E.C. Mabe, near Penryn, Cornwall 77, Park-road West, Brighton Saham, Thetford PROPOSER. J. W. Martyn A. E. Porter Rev. M. M. Ben-Oliel Rev. H. W. McGrath E. J. S. Layton Rev. T. O. Marshall O. R. Vassall Rev. C. Beanlands Rev. E. J. Tompson G. R. Hammond Rev. H. B. Waterfield 19, Cambridge-street, Grosvenor-park, S.E. Rev. J. B. White 5, S. John's-road, Oxford Bull Ring, Kidderminster Rev. T. O. Marshall 2, Spencer-cottages, Cobden-road, South E. Chabot SECONDER. Rev. H. R. Baker Rev. W. H. C. Luke F. T. Bell W. H. Widdicombe Rev. H. C. Shuttleworth Rev. T. O. Marshall Rev. C. E. Broke Lt.-Colonel J. B. Hardy E. J. S. Layton Rev. J. T. Smith 103 Women-Associates were e'ected by the President and Council during the past month, in addition to the 87 Members and Associates whose names appeared in C. U. G. for July. CHURCH OF ENGLAND WORKING MEN'S SOCIETY, for Securing Freedom of Worship and the preservation of her Rights and Liberties on the basis of the Book of Common Prayer. The Society is governed by a President, three Vice-Presidents, and a Council, all of whom are working men. An urge APPEAL is made by the Council for Annual Subscriptions and Donations to enable them to carry on the work of the Society. Copies of the Rules and Constitutions ar d ar y information will be gladly furnished by any local Secretary, or may be obtained direct from the General Secretary. Annual Subscriptions and Donations will be thankfully received by H. Sidney Warr, Esq, Treasurer, 63, High Holborn; by the Editors of the Church Times and Church Revier; or by C. POWELL, General Secretary. 27, Baldwin's-gardens, Holborn, E.C. LONDON FREE AND OPEN CHURCH ASSOCIATION 25, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND, W.C. President: The Right Hon. Earl NELSON. Treasurer: EDWARD M. COURTNEY, Esq. Secretary: T. BOWATER VERNON, Esq. Objects.-The Abolition of Pew Rents and of Seat Appropriation, Reviva of the Weekly Offertory, and the Opening of Churches Daily for Private Prayer. The Free and Open Church Advocate, a record of progress, is published monthly, price 1d., or by post Is. 6d. annually. The support of Churchmen is earnestly asked for on behalf of this Society, since a general adoption of its principles would greatly extend the influence of the Church of England. STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, ECCLESIASTICAL AND DOMESTIC. HENRY JAMES SNELL & CO., Contractors for every description of Painted Glass, 59, GREEK STREET, SOHO, LONDON, W. IRON CHURCHES AND IRON SCHOOLROOMS Of any size, Manufactured by S. C. HEMMING AND CO., 47, MOORGATE STREET, LONDON, The only Manufacturers who were awarded a PRIZE MEDAL at the VIENNA EXHIBITION for Iron Buildings. Established 1851. Payment by instalments if required. CHARLES P. PIKE, CASSOCK, SURPLICE & ROBE MAKER, HATTER, &c., &c. By Appointment to Keble, Lincoln, and Exeter Colleges, Oxford. C. P. P. having supplied the Clergy for upwards of THIRTY YEARS, and the firm previously selling to the Trade wholesale, is known to be the most moderate in price and correct in design. 40, TAVISTOCK STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON, W.C. (three doors from the E. C. U. Office), and 2 & 3, TURL STREET, OXFORD. METAL & WOOD WORK FOR DOMESTIC AND ECCLESIASTICAL PURPOSES, Coronæs, Standards, Gasaliers, Grills, 2D Grates, Brackets, Vases, Lecterns, Memorial Brasses, Tomb Railings, &c., &c.; Pulpits, Altars, Chairs, Stands, Desks, Lectern Seats, Screens, Reredos, &c. COMMUNION PLATE SETS MANUFACTURERS OF TEXTILE FABRICS, Embroidery, Carpets, Damasks, Has- STAINED GLASS, STONE CARVERS. BIRMINGHAM-Works and Show Rooms: Temple-row. (Show Rooms: 43, Great Russell-street, W.C. Works: 260, Euston-road, N.W. LONDON MIXTURES. PRICES:-3s., 4s., and 5s. per lb., Packets of 1lb., lb., lb; Tins of 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, and 20 lbs.; Carriage Paid on Purchases of £2 and upwards to any Railway Station. S. From particular Plantations, at proportionate Prices. PETER'S, LONDON DOCKS. FUNDS are MUCH NEEDED for the Maintenance of the Schools, the Annual Excursion, the Charities of the Parish, and for Building the New Clergy House. Address Rev. C. F. LOWDER, as above. London: Printed and Published for the Proprietors by the CHURCH PRINTING COMPANY, 11, Burleigh-street, Strand. THE CHURCH CONGRESS, 1877. SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING AT CROYDON. The Church Congress will be held on October 9, 10, 11, and 12. There will be special Services at the Parish Church, Croydon; also at the Church of SS. Michael and All Angels, Poplar Walk, Croydon, at which latter Church there will be early Celebrations of the Holy Eucharist every day, and other Services. The Hon. Sec. of the Croydon Branch, who is also Hon. Sec. to the Reception Committee of the Congress, will endeavour to find accommodation for Members of the E. C. U. in the town; but as he has already had numerous applications, he will be glad to hear from Members as soon as possible, at the address below. A. BROMLEY BURROWS. Bedford Park, Croydon, Surrey. SERVICES AT THE CHURCH OF SS. MICHAEL. AND ALL ANGELS, POPLAR EVENSONG. 5.30, with Sermon by Rev. J. E. C. U. SUSTENTATION FUND. The following Letter is being sent by order of the President and Council of the E. C. U. to all persons who have promised, or paid, Subscriptions or Donations to the "Sustentation Fund" started by Mr. Fifoot and others last year, and subsequently amalgamated with the "Laymen's Association : ". THE ENGLISH CHURCH UNION, 35, Wellington-street, Strand, W.C. September 1st, 1877. Sir, The Council of the English Church Union having decided to invite Subscriptions for the creation of a Sustentation Fund for the support of the Clergy who, under existing circumstances, may be threatened with prosecutions under the Public Worship Act, and being also prepared to make themselves responsible for the management of such a Fund when formed, we beg to ask your permission to allow the sums promised or paid by you to the "Laymen's Association" for the above object to be transferred to the English Church Union. The Union has already certain sums collected for the purpose, and as it is unnecessary to have two Funds existing side by side for the same object, we shall, unless we hear to the contrary within a fortnight from the date of this letter, assume that we have your permission for such an amalgamation.—We are, yours faithfully, CHARLES L. WOOD, President of the E. C. U. It may be well to append here the Resolutions adopted by the President and Council in the months of March and July, 1877, with regard to the E. C. U. Sustentation Fund: (1.) That the President and Council proceed forthwith to establish a Fund to be called 'The Sustentation Fund." " (2.) "That this Fund be applied for the support of such Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, and those dependent upon them, and in such manner as the President and Council may from time to time direct." (3.) "That the Fund be administered by a Committee acting under the authority of the President and Council." (4.) "That Subscriptions and Donations be forthwith invited, and that Advertisements of the Fund, and of such Subscriptions and Donations as have been paid or promised, be inserted in the Times and other London papers.' (5.) "That application be made to Churchmen to contribute to the 'E. C. U. Sustentation Fund' in either of the three following ways: : "(a) by Annual Subscriptions; (c) by Guaranteeing sums which they will be willing to pay if called upon by the President and Council so to do, with the condition that the President and Council shall not in any one year make a larger call on any Guarantor than 10 per cent, on the amount guaranteed by him.“ Subscriptions and Donations should be paid to the Secretary of the E. C. U., Lieut.-Colonel J. B. Hardy (E. C. U. Office, 35, Wellington-street, Strand, W.C.), by cheque crossed "Barnett, Hoares, and Co.," or by P. O. O. payable at the General Post Office. The Secretary will also be very glad to receive the names of any who will guarantee sums which they will pay, if called upon, subject to the condition stated above in Resolution 5. THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY FOR THE DIOCESE OF MARITZBURG, NATAL. The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Maritzburg has appointed Rev. W. L. Bowditch, late Assistant-Curate of St. Mary Magdalene's, Paddington, as Theological Tutor to the Candidates for Holy Orders in his Diocese, with a view to the formation as soon as may be of a Theological College 7.30, with Sermon by Rev. R. in the Diocese. This Service is for Men only. 7.30, with Sermon by Rev. Canon T. T. Carter. 5.30. W. Randall. 8 5.30. Mr. Bowditch, who sailed from England at the end of June, took with him a valuable Theological Library, con |