eel personally aggrieved by the pews being
taken away and replaced with benches. We have only of late understood
that some of the pews are looked upon as private property. This is
such a violation of the statement that the sittings are all free,
that it could no longer be permitted. To require these unscriptural
practices to be renounced, we have reason to apprehend, would be
considered as an arbitrary act of rule, and might alienate the minds
of those of our dear brethren who are still, in heart, attached to
that to which they hare been accustomed in former years.

If it can be shown that the above difficulties are capable of being
removed, or that any greater evil would attend the yielding up of
Gideon than the evils which necessarily accompany our retaining it,
then we are bound not to give it up. But, according to our present
light, we see no way of reconciling the two objects, viz.: the
retaining of Gideon, and the exhibiting a full, unhindered testimony
to the truth of God. We repeat it, that we do not separate from any
single individual in fellowship with us, we only leave the walls of a
building, and invite those who feel called upon to separate from
every sectarian system, and to meet where free exercise is afforded
for every spiritual gift, to assemble with us at Bethesda.

In the case of those who are in ordinary health, the inconvenience
attending the locality of Bethesda is a matter of very little
consequence. Half an hour's earlier rising on the morning of the
Lord's day, would be sufficient, in most cases, fully to meet the
difficulty; and the consciousness, that the glory of Jesus and the
true welfare of His church were thereby promoted, would far more than
compensate for the amount of self-denial which the inconvenience
arising from the distance would impose.--In reference to the weak,
the sickly, and the very aged, who reside in the neigbourhood of
Gideon, we trust, in the strength of the Lord, to make such ample
provision for their comfort on the Lord's day, that they may have no
reason to regret that Gideon has been relinquished. Lastly, as it
regards the opportunities which will be lost, by giving up Gideon, of
proclaiming the truth among believers, as well as preaching the
gospel to the world, we intend, according to our ability and the
measure of gift amongst us, to open places for those purposes in
different parts of the city.

After we had fully stated our minds respecting our difficultie