PENRITH HERALD AND EAST CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND NEWS. No. 439. - Seventh Week in Quarter. Registered for Transmission Abroad. SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 14, 1874. PRICE 1D. RAVENSTONEDALE. - The annual missionary meeting in connection with the London Missionary Society, was held in the Independent Chapel, on Tuesday evening last. The deputation was the REV. J. LEES, a missionary recently returned from China, who gave some most interesting information on the characteristics of that country, and the manners and customs of its people. Their religion he showed to be very dark and imperfect, furnishing no bright or comforting hope beyond the grave. Some interesting cases of conversion was dwelt upon in detail, in which the faith of the converts was shown to be of an earnest and intelligent type. The speech was illustrated by the exhibition of several Chinese pictures, and the missionary sang one of our well-known hymns in the Chinese language. The congregation listened with great interest to the address throughout. The REV. W. TAYLOR, of Kendal, and the REV. J. CHARTER, of Brough, also addressed the meeting. The REV. W. NICHOLLS was in the chair. The contributions and collection, which included an extra donation, amounted to £20 1s. 10-1/2d. KIRKBYTHORE SCHOOL BOARD. - At the ordinary monthly meeting of this Board, held on Thursday evening, Feb. 5th, a resolution was unanimously passed to the effect that the school hitherto known by the name of the KIRKBYTHORE BRITISH SCHOOL, be taken under the management of the School Board, and conducted according to the provisions of the Education Act, with respect to Board Schools. The rival public Elementary schools at Kirkbythore are consequently both things of the past; and the enterprising managers of the survivor have the satisfaction of seeing their trust transferred to a body of men freely elected by the ratepayers, who are bound to conduct the school on the broad principles of religious equality, in furtherance of which they have so energetically laboured. MR. F. E. BROWN has been appointed to the mastership of the KIRKBYTHORE U.D. BOARD SCHOOL; and the owner of the British School-room has kindly consented to permit the Board to use the room during school hours, free of charge, until better accommodation is provided.