(Since writing this chapter, the sixtieth annual report of these brethren across the sea has come into my hands, and the items in this paragraph are taken mainly from the address of Bro.  John Wyckliffe Black, as chairman of the annual meeting which assembled in August of this year at Leeds.  The membership is now reported at thirteen thousand eight hundred and forty-four, an increase of about eight hundred members since the meeting held at Wigan in 1904.  In 1842 the British brotherhood numbered thirteen hundred, and in 1862 it had more than doubled.  After the lapse of another period of twenty years, the number had more than doubled again, standing at six thousand six hundred and thirty-two.  In 1902, when twenty years more had passed, the membership had almost doubled again, having grown to twelve thousand five hundred and thirty-seven.  In 1842 the average number of members in each congregation was thirty-one; in 1862 it was forty; in 1882 it had reached sixty-one; and in 1902 it was seventy-two.  The average number in each congregation is now somewhat higher than it was in 1902.)

Soon after the meeting was convened on Tuesday, “the Conference recognised the presence of Mrs. Hall and Miss Jean Hall, of Sydney, N.S.W., and Brother Don Carlos Janes, from Ohio, U.S.A., and cordially gave them a Christian welcome.”  The address of welcome and the address of the chairman, Brother James Anderson, of Fauldhouse, Scotland, came early in the day.  The meeting on Wednesday opened with worship and a short address, followed by reports from the General Sunday-school, Reference, General Training, and Magazine Committees.  One interesting feature of the proceedings of this day was the conference paper by Bro.  T.J.  Ainsworth on the subject of “The Relation of Christianity to the Social Questions of the Day.”  Besides a discussion of this paper, there was a preaching service at night.  Thursday, the last day of the meeting, was occupied, after the morning worship and short address, with the reports of committees and the appointment of committees.  At the social meeting at night several brethren, who had been previously selected, spoke on such subjects as seemed good to them.  Bro.  W.A.  Kemp, of Melbourne, Australia, and the writer were the only speakers not residents of the British Isles.  At the close of the meeting the following beautiful hymn was sung to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne”: 

  Hail, sweetest, dearest tie, that binds
    Our glowing hearts in one;
  Hail, sacred hope, that tunes our minds
    To harmony divine. 
  It is the hope, the blissful hope
    Which Jesus’ words afford—­
  The hope, when days and years are past,
    Of life with Christ the Lord.

  What though the northern wintry blast
    Shall howl around our cot? 
  What though beneath an eastern sun
    Be cast our distant lot? 
  Yet still we share the blissful hope
    His cheering words afford—­
  The hope, when days and years are past,
    Of glory with the Lord.