our proceedings with prayer; and we always read a portion of the holy scriptures, which I explained. We varied some of our plans; but there was one I adhered to. I wrote short addresses, on important points of doctrine and practice, from striking passages of scripture, and read these addresses to my class. Many of these are now published, and have also been approved of for family reading, and favourably reviewed in religious periodicals, such as your own magazine, the "Christian Observer," "Christian Advocate," &c., &c. I am quite sure that well-educated Christian ladies, living in rural neighbourhoods, would find these réunions both pleasant and profitable: our influence should always be on the side of true religion and virtue; and the very fact that a lady takes an interest in the temporal, but, above all, in the spiritual, welfare of her young neighbours attaches them to her in a way she could never accomplish if scarcely acquainted with them. But let me no longer trespass upon your patience, and that of your readers. I am, dear sir, yours sincerely, DOROTHEA HASELL. Dalemain. Jubenile Reading. THE PASSWORD}. DURING the recent American war, a noble band of Christians, called the "Christian Commission," at the head of which was Mr. Stuart, accompanied the army wherever it went, and, | amidst the sick, wounded, and dying, did a great work for Jesus. Late one night Mr. Stuart had to pass the lines of the two armies, and before starting he asked the colonel of the regiment for the password. "Chicago was given him; and away he rode, feeling all safe. At the lines a sentry challenged him with the usual "Who goes there? friend or foe p" "A friend," said Mr. Stuart. The sentry presented his rifle and demanded the password. "Chicago was the confident reply. Without moving, the sentry said, "Mr. Stuart, it is my duty to shoot you; for you have given the wrong password. Ride back to head-quarters and get the right one; for it would be death for me to give it you." Mr. Stuart turned his horse's head, galloped back to the colonel's tent, and, rushing in, said, "Colonel, you gave me the passwordChicago,' and it is wrong.' "How could I be such a fool ?" said the colonel, "that is the one for yesterday: to-day's is ' Massachusetts.' I am deeply sorry for the mistake, Mr. Stuart." Again he approached the lines, and again the challenge met him, "Who goes there? I first published "Saturday Afternoons." London: Macintosh. This little book is in its second edition; price 2s. 6d. handsomely bound; the cheap edition is 1s. 6d. "Sunday Evenings" is a similar little work, price 3s., but much larger; publisher, Macintosh. There is also a little work on the same plan, though not intended for my class, to which my name is prefixed-"The Rock;" by Miss Hasell, Dalemain. London: Hunt and Co. From "The Happy Secret; a New Year's Address for 1869," by David Harris, Edinburgh, friend or foe ?" "A friend," said Mr. Stuart. "Have you the password ?" 66 Massachusetts," was the reply. At once the rifle was lowered, and the word given, "Pass." As Mr. Stuart rode up to the sentry, he said, "Well, you have asked me for the password twice; once I gave it wrong; it might have been fatal to me. Let me ask you, my lad, do you know the password for heaven, which will be asked for only once?" The sentry replied, "I thank God I do, sir; I learned it from your lips in a New York sabbath-school- The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.' That is the password, sir." O, children, see to it that you have the right password at heaven's gate. The blood, and only the blood of Jesus, is sufficient then: Jesus only in life and after this life. Luther, whenever he wrote a letter, headed the sheet "Jesus," as if to intimate that all must be done with reference to him. Let this be your motto, as it was of many a Scottish martyr who, for his faith, suffered death by burning: "Jesus only." NOTICE OF BOOKS. WE have lately received the following books: 'Family Prayers for One Month, with a few Prayers for Special Occasions;" by the rev. J. W. Reeve, M.A., minister of Portman chapel, London. London: Nisbet and Co. 1869. We can freely say that these prayers are good in themselves, comprehensive, and in a large print-a great boon to weak and elderly persons, whose eyes are often sorely tried by the small type now so much in fashion; but they have not (and what prayers have ?) the majesty and simplicity that characterize those of our liturgy. We trust they will be found useful. cannot, however, help repeating what we have frequently said before, that we do not see the necessity of publishing fresh manuals of prayers. There are already a multitude of such volumes; why add others which present no appreciable difference in principles or expression from those that have gone before them? We "The Painted Bird and the Painted Text: A Simple Story for Little Boys and Girls;" by M. C. Bushe. addition to the library of small folks. London: Nelson and Sons. 1869. This is an agreeable and it inculcates very important scripture lessons. It is amusing, It may be safely put into the hands of boys and girls. They will learn much that is good from it. "Daily Thoughts on Christ Alone;" by Zeta. London: Macintosh. 1869. We think this a valuable little book. There are thirty-one papers in it, consequently subjects of thought for a month. Each is headed by a text of scripture and a verse or two of a hymn. Then there is a brief meditation, often enlivened by an illustrative anecdote. One of these we shall extract. It relates to an individual, now with God, who kindly honoured us with his friendship: "The writer remembers reading some years since a beautiful incident in the life of the archbishop of Tuam of his love to his Saviour. able instance of his grace's visits of mercy before dawn 'I am able to state, on undoubted authority, a remarkto the sick poor. The contrast between his grace's character and employment and that of the carnal and careless witnesses of the scene is remarkable. Two young gentlemen, in returning from a ball in Tuam, observed the light of a lamp at the upper end of the street. They paused to wonder and conjecture whence it could proceed. As the object neared, they stepped aside, and with astonishment perceived that it was borne by the archbishop, who was wrapped in a large blue cloak, "Let us dog him!" they idly whispered, and pursued his | tending but pleasing little work; Golden Hours, February (London, Macintosh, 1869)-we have repeatedly commended this periodical; it is more for general reading than some of the others we notice, and usually contains much to interest and instruct; "The Gospel Watchman, February (London, Yapp and Hawkins, 1869), "The Book-hawking Circular, or Quarterly Paper of the Church of England Bookhawking Union" (London, Rivingtons, 1869) in which the plan and some of the proceedings of a valuable institution are set forth; "Old Jonathan, February" (London, Collingridge, 1869)—this is always and very deservedly a favourite. We have also received: "Dr. Newman on Anglican Orders, &c., with a Reply," by C. H. Collette (London, Macintosh, 1868); "Let Us not Rend it: an Appeal for Unity," by a clergyman of the diocese of Oxford (London, Macintosh, 1869). Miscellaneous. "Home Thoughts for Mothers and Mothers' Meetings." London: Nisbet and Co. 1869. The position of a clergyman's wife is one of peculiar responsibility. If the clergyman is bound to care for the souls generally of his parishioners, his wife is bound also to devote herself to the improvement of the females around her. For this she has peculiar facilities. The earnest words from a woman's warm loving heart will very probably penetrate where a man's would be disregarded. And it must be remembered that, if to the unfaithful minister the awful question will one day be put "Where is the flock that was given thee-thy beautiful flock?" a like quesLESS THAN A QUARTER OF AN HOUR.-Our time tion will strike home to the conscience of the neglect on earth may be truly said to be less than a quarter of an ful minister's wife in the great account. Of course hour, compared with eternity; and yet, on the spending we speak of cases where there is not the burden of that little period the enjoyment of millions of millions of a family. To her children's instruction and welfare of years, yea, a never-ending eternity, is suspended! the first duty of a mother is owed. But, where the family Now in this period-less than a quarter of an hour-God is small, or grown up, or removed, the obligation holds has, through the blood of Christ, manifested his infinite in full force. It holds, too, with a grown-up clergy-love to man, in the depth of his poverty and wretchedman's daughter. No such person, wife or daughter, with the love of Christ in her heart, will fail to do something for the spiritual good of the females in the parish. She will visit them, she will gather them in mothers' meetings, she will show how tenderly she cares for their souls. And, the less promising the women around her seem, the more will she exert herself, knowing that such need her greatest care, her most diligent labour. These reflections are appropriate to the volume before us, which we warmly recommend, especially to our female readers. They can hardly peruse it without profit. They will find in it many interesting narratives, much inciting to exertion for the souls of others, much that may with propriety be read at mothers' meetings. Perhaps we may be able hereafter to give one of its chapters as an extract, the better to introduce it to general notice. "Invention of the Electric Telegraph: Charge against sir Charles Wheatstone of tampering with the Press, &c." London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. 1869. This pamphlet must give real pain to every reader. Two eminent men cannot agree which has had the greatest share in originating the electric telegraph. Into the merits of the dispute we cannot enter, further than to refer to p. 38 of our January part: we heartily wish that it may be composed in an amicable way. The following periodicals have reached us: "The Christian Observer, February (London, Hatchards, 1869)—there are some important papers in the present part of this valuable journal, such as "The Ritual Commission, No. ii.," "Children in Religious Households," and others that will repay perusal; "The Christian Advocate and Review, February (London, Hunt and Co., 1869)-we always approve the principles of this journal, and, though it is occasionally rather dry, there is much important matter in it; we may specify in the present number a biographical sketch of the celebrated Anne countess of Dorset, Pembroke, and Montgomery, also the paper on "The Religions of China," but we cannot say we admire that on the Irish establishment, in which there are several coarse and hardly-intelligible expressions; "The Gospel Magazine and Protestant Beacon, February (London, Collingridge, 1869)— replete with pious and spiritual reflections; "The Home Visitor, February" (London, Hunt and Co.)—an unpre ness, by throwing open to him the treasures of eternal glory. He has commanded him to enter boldly, and behas assured him that all the riches ou which he shall live come, through the Spirit of God, rich for eternity. He throughout his immortality are to be secured, through grace, during the awful quarter of an hour. He has entreated him by every consideration, by the greatness of his redeeming love, the blood of his beloved Son, the brevity and uncertainty of time and its awful relation to the decisions of the day of judgment, to "labour for the while it is day," to "lay up treasures in heaven," to meat which endureth to everlasting life," to "work My dear reader, be wise to-day. Remember how much "seek for glory, honour, and immortality, eternal life." of the fleeting period has expired. Remember that every moment spent to please God, through love to Christ, is his servants even for what his grace works in them, as a regarded by the sovereign goodness of God, who rewards jewel laid up in the treasury of eternal glory; while, on the other hand, time wasted or spent to the neglect of the great salvation, or to gratify ourselves, resembles, in its folly, but in an infinitely higher degree, the throwing away precious diamonds into the ocean for the straws and pebbles scattered on the sea-shore.-From English Monthly Tract Society's Tract. sabbatarian congregation in Transylvania has embraced SABBATARIANS.-A Hungarian paper states that a not rest on Sundays, but on Saturdays (sabbaths); but Judaism. They are called Sabbatarians because they do in every other respect are Christians. Their origin is supposed to be the following. After the destruction of the second temple a large number of Jews formed a par ticular legion, which, under Trajan, conquered Dacia, the Transylvania of our days, and received landed property as a reward. Their descendants, being compelled to embrace Christianity, retained some Jewish customs, one of which is the celebration of the biblical sabbath. and SON, 9, Ave Maria Lane, St. Paul's; ROGERSON London: Published for the Proprietors, by S. D. EWINS and TUXFORD, 265, Strand; and to be procured, by order of all Booksellers in Town and Country. PRINTED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND, LONDON. THE church of St. Margaret, Westminster, is in many respects a noticeable structure, both for its position, and in itself for its intrinsic character. It stands near the northern entrance of the glorious abbey, and contributes to set off that building by breaking the continuity, so to speak, of the long northern side. It also presents an interesting specimen of the architecture of the period of Edward IV. In the eastern window is some fine painted glass, representing the crucifixion. This was presented by the magistrates of Dort to Henry VII., and was intended for his chapel then building; but, as the king died before it was finished, the glass, after passing through various hands, was ultimately purchased for its present situation at the price of £420. In this church Sir Walter Raleigh, beheaded in 1618, in Palace-yard, hard by, was interred, and a tablet in the building is inscribed to his memory. A while ago a project was announced for the removal of this church by some railway company who would sacrifice Westminsterabbey itself to gratify the morbid desire of the public to traverse the metropolis in a few minutes less time than is now practicable. But to such a desire it is not very likely that parliament would sacrifice St. Margaret's. For it is the parish church of parliament; and, on particular occasions, the house of commons attend divine service in it. UNDER THE WILLOWS. Harold was not slow in acceding to his friend's request; and four o'clock in the afternoon found the two friends together in Dr. Stone's little study, where both, and Will more especially, had known so many happy hours. "Harold," Will said, after the first greetings had been interchanged, "I have not much time, and so must go right into the subject at once. You know well enough that you have always been like a brother to me, so much like a brother that I feel I can tell you anything; and so you will not be surprised when I talk to you on a subject which at present I could not speak of will answer me in the same way, will you not?" other human being. And I know you "To be sure I will; but what on earth is coming, Will ?" to any 66 Is Madge engaged to be married to Charlie Brograve ?" Will brought out the question as quietly and bravely as he could; but it cost him some effort; and that Harold could plainly The parish, at the census of 1861, contained see. Nevertheless he could not resist one of his a population of 8,697, heartiest laughs as he exclaimed: "Good graVOL. LXVI. No, 1957. |