| 28 five shillings for one Sunday's use. . . . The attendance was not large, but those that came usually acknowledged the truth of the doctrine. None were baptized from this effort, yet thousands were warned, and the brethren felt that they had done their duty so far as their means would permit. Brn. Bradshaw and Norton have also been energetic in their efforts at the old stand, in the Mile End Road. Bro. Norton has also labored in several other localities, and he is strong in the hope of seeing the fruit of his labors. Bro. Bradshaw, as is his custom, speaks regularly out of doors in addition to his duties as president of the branch.
Before leaving Birmingham last time I was called upon to make an addition of two to our numbers by baptism. I believe them to be the fruits of the labors of the local brethren. In company of Bro. Thomas Taylor I then visited Clay Cross, and assisted him in taking the necessary steps to put that branch in working order. We so far succeeded that there is now a flourishing branch there, with Bro. Thomas Pointon at its head. He is alive to the cause, and is ably seconded by Bro. Wm. Bennett; they are both untiring in their efforts to win souls to Christ. In company of Bro. Pointon I visited Nottingham, where there formerly was a branch of the church, but they had got broken up through the evil acts of some. We succeeded in finding a few who were overjoyed to see us. We comforted them all we could, and left them rejoicing. We send them a Herald occasionally, and they meet together and read it. Late letters from them are cheering, one more of the lost ones found by them. After leaving them I attended the Birmingham quarterly conference, which was held at Stafford. . . . Brn. Seville, Greenwood, and Caton, who now reside there, believe that the ground is broken there, and they propose to follow up the effort, when a suitable place can be had to preach in. . . . I returned to Clay Cross, by request, and held meeting there in the Angel Room, which is now rented by that branch for permanent meetings. While there I baptized five, the fruits of the labors of other brethren. One sister of these baptized had previously been administered to for an inward tumor, by Bro. Bennett and myself. She was very low at the time. I believe the doctors said she could not live. She subsequently walked over two miles to be baptized and walked home again. Recent information from there states that she is now rejoicing in the promise of complete restoration. To God be the glory. Some that were wayward in that branch are now said to be repentant. I am pleased to state that that branch is now in a flourishing condition. . . . I next visited Hanley Branch, Staffordshire, presided over by Bro. Brunt, We there advertized [advertised] ourselves in the local papers, and spoke twice on Sunday, September 14, Thursday, 18, and again three times on Sunday, 21, in some of which we showed our opposition to certain false doctrines. We had reporters from the local papers present, and of course we got ourselves into print. It is believed that good will result, as even the reporter was surprised to learn that we used the Bible. The brethren there are doing what they can for the cause, and I wish them every success.
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