About ten years ago, the Preston Free Gospel people got Mr. James Toulmin to build a chapel for them in Ashmoor-street; they having worshipped up to that time, first at a place on Snow-Hill and then in Gorst-street.  He did not give them the chapel; never said that he would; couldn’t afford to be guilty of an act so curious; but he erected a place of worship for their pleasure, and they have paid him something in the shape of rent for it ever since.  The chapel is a plain, small, humble-looking building—­a rather respectably developed cottage, with only one apartment—­and we should think that those who attend it must be in earnest.  The place seems to have been arranged to hold 95 persons—­a rather strange number; but upon a pinch, and by the aid of a few forms planted near the foot of the pulpit, perhaps 120 could be accommodated in it.  There are just fourteen pews in the chapel, and they run up backwards to the end of the building, the highest altitude obtained being perhaps four yards.  A good view can be obtained from the pulpit.  Not only can the preacher eye instantaneously every member of his congregation, but he can get serene glimpses through the windows of eight chimney pots, five house roofs, and portions of two backyards.  In a season of doubt and difficulty a scene like this must relieve him.

There are about 30 “members” of the chapel.  The average attendance on a Sunday, including all ranks, will be about 50.  The worshippers are humble people—­artisans, operatives, small shopkeepers, &c.  A few of the hottest original partisans were the first to leave the chapel after its opening.  There is a Sunday school connected with the body, and between 40 and 50 children and youths attend it on the average.  Voluntaryism in its most absolute form, is the predominant principle of the denomination.  The sect is, in reality, a “free community.”  Their standard is the bible; they believe in both faith and good works, but place more reliance upon the latter than the former; they recognise a progressive Christianity, “harmonising,” as we have been told, “with science and common sense;” they object to the Trinitarian dogma, as commonly accepted by the various churches, maintaining that both the Bible and reason teach the existence of but one God; they have no eucharistic sacrament, believing that as often as they eat and drink they should be imbued with a spirit of Christian remembrance and thankfulness; they argue that ministers should not be paid; they dispense with pew-rents; repudiate all money tests of membership—­class-pence, &c.; make voluntary weekly contributions towards the general expenses, each giving according to his means; and all have a voice in the regulation of affairs, but direct executive work is done by a president and a committee.  The independent volition of Quakerism is one of their prime peculiarities.  If they have even a tea-party, no fixed charge for admission is made; the price paid for demolishing the tea and currant bread, and crackers being left to the individual ability and feelings of the participants.