“IN BLACKEST BIRMINGHAM Birmingham, St. Laurence's. - On Shrove Tuesday the Midland Officers and Nurses met in this notorious parish for their Monthly Conference. The church was first inspected and and although it is the one in which our Vicar, the Rev. T. J. Bass has held several ofhis famous scrubbing services, it is anything but bright and clean yet. Here we live in an atmosphere of smoke and smells; but in spite of our surroundings a most helpful and enjoyable Confernence was held. The Revered T. J. Bass, addressed us in the afternoon, and sopke highly of the Church Army work that was being carried on. A good tea was provided by his kindness at Capt. Carter's house and Mrs. Carter saw that the inner man and woman were satisfied. After tea, came skirmishing in the courts and slums, and much wretchedness and poverty were met with, but we are thankful to say that a good number of the right sort of men and women were induced to attend our evening meeting, thanks being due to the earnest pleading of the skirmishers, and Capt. Carter's attractive tickets and invitations to come and have something better than pancakes.The evening meeting took the form of a Lantern Service, the Captain's lantern and acetylene gas light being employed, the Officers and Nurses gave short addresses on the Scripture pictures shown, and a very blessed and solemn service was held. We feel certain that God the Holy Spirit did convict some of sin that night. We have had a number of distinguished visitors to see this dark and poor parish lately, as the newspapers have been describing it as one of the blackest in Midlands. Last week we had the dear old bishop of Worcester and his wife here, and they went abroad and visited and saw for themselves what the Vicar and Church Army workers are really doing here. Dear friends, do pray for us here, for the work is most difficult. A Worker, for Capt. Carter and Nurse Oxley.”