BASINGSTOKE.]—MEETING OF THE HANTS CONGREGATIONAL AND SUNDAY SCHOOL UNIONS.—The half-yearly meetings of this Union were held on Monday and Tuesday last, at Basingstoke.The attendance of ministers and lay-representatives from the different churches of the county was numerous, deep interest was created by the proceedings, and although on some points lively discussions took place, a spirit of great unanimity and earnestness prevailed throughout.
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The report of the general committee respecting the proceedings of the past year showed what had been done in the way of grants in aid of the pastors of village churches, and the good effected by the labours of devoted evangelists and bible readers in several thinly-populated districts of the county. It appeared that the latter kind of agency had been very efficient amongst the outlying villages in the neighbourhoods of Alton, Basingstoke, Romsey, Overton, Hurtsbourne, and Petersfield; but a general conviction seemed to prevail that a great increase of liberal support was needful, in order to maintain and increase this most desirable kind of agency.
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It is believed that the unanimity and earnest purposes which were manifested at these half-yearly meetings of the Union will result in great moral and spiritual good for the county at large, especially as they are to be followed by a conference at Southampton, from which the greatest benefit may be confidently anticipated.