University, where some of the students graduate. The Baptists also have
a fine College in the Regent's Park, the students of which also
occasionally are in the class lists of the London University. But the
real fact is that in all the Dissenting Colleges the men who take
university honours are the exception, not the rule; the reason is the
course extends over but four or five years--and so much of that time is
devoted to theological study and pulpit preparation that there is not the
time to attain to the high standard prescribed by the London University.
The student has often had but an average middle-class education. He
feels an impulse, or, as it is technically termed, "a call" to the
Ministry. He has been found acceptable as a Sunday School teacher, or in
other ways has demonstrated his ability and religious character and zeal.
With the sanction of his Minister and the Church with which he is
connected, he is sent to College, where he remains till his professional
education is complete. Occasionally young men seek to enter the Ministry
with very humble views. Recently I heard of such a one. His pastor
having indicated his doubt as to the possession of the requisite ability,
the reply was: "Oh, sir, I know I never could be a learned man like you,
but I thought I might make a hignorant Minister like Mr. ---," naming a
well-known and popular Minister of another denomination.

The Baptists have also their Baptist Union sitting in London, and
occasionally in the Provinces. The first General (Arminian) Baptist
Church is said to have been formed in London in 1607. The first
Particular (Calvinistic) Church in 1616. I fancy that in some of the
Baptist Bethels and Cave Adullams, an Antinomian, or, at any rate, a more
decided Calvinism exists than prevails in the Independent Churches. As
regards Church government, their ideas are the same. One necessity of
this state of things is that their ministers must have some preaching
ability, a thing which is quite an accident in the Church of England;
another advantage is, that there are few pecuniary attractions to tempt
men to undertake duties for which they are unqualified.

The leading bodies connected with Church work in London are as
follows:--1. The Congregational Chapel Building Society, of which the
twentieth anniversary was held last year. We gather from the facts laid
before the meeting that during the 21 years (including 1869) of the
Society's existence it has