scientiousness, in intensity of religious faith, in all which makes their creed a power in their own life, in that proportion will they find that the children, who ought, in the divine order of things, to form a new bond of union between parents, become more and more an insuperable occasion of difficulty and sorrow.

"BY HONOUR AND DISHONOUR."

we think, is the Agar-Ellis case, as it is called, which has lately been the subject of legal proceedings in the Court of Chancery and in the Court of Appeal. The point at issue between husband and wife, who are persons of consideration in "society," was the religious education of their children. The children are three little girls of from ten to thirteen years of age. The father is a Protestant, the mother a Roman Catholic. As is well known, the Romish Church The failure of the City of Glasgow Bank has led to only gives its sanction to such marriages on certain disclosures of commercial recklessness, selfishness, stringent conditions, one of which is that the children and immorality, which not only justify the indignawho may be born shall be brought up as Romantion which has been so generally and so emphatically Catholics. In the case now alluded to, the future expressed, but also call for something like national parents entered before marriage into a mutual agree-humiliation. The mad, wild race for riches into ment with regard to this rule. The Protestant lover which multitudes so eagerly throw themselves, is solemnly pledged himself that the children should be beset with moral perils, in which many become entrained in the faith of their mother, and on that under- tangled unawares, and in which they lose a good standing the marriage took place. A pledge more conscience as well as a good name. A feeling of absolutely binding it seems hardly possible to con- indignation against some palpable and outrageous ceive. And yet it is possible that Mr. Ellis came to wrong is not to be regarded, however, as an induregard it as a promise to do what was utterly wicked, bitable sign of the rectitude of those who express it. and, therefore, what it was his bounden duty to do Horror at the wrong-doing of another is strangely and his utmost not to fulfil. Any way, the English law sadly compatible with the existence of a good deal of regards such a pledge as of no validity, and refuses habitual wrong-doing in our own behaviour, and the to allow the father to divest himself by a promise of caution, "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take the kind of his parental obligation to direct the educa- heed lest he fall," is profoundly wise, and very worthy tion of his children. Into the reasons for this attitude to be remembered and pondered over by every one of of the law of the land it is not needful for us to enter us. But the generous readiness on the part of a conhere; it is sufficient to point out the fact. In due siderable number of the public to help by liberal gifts time the difficulty thus created presented itself before the unfortunate shareholders who have suffered so Mr. and Mrs. Ellis in a very practical shape. The severely from the collapse of the bank, is a sign of mother instilled into the minds of her daughters the the existence of good feeling which we rejoice to teachings of the Romish Church, and trained them recognise and welcome. Much has been said of the in the practices of that communion. The father discredit brought upon the profession of Christianity repented of his promise, and endeavoured to set it on by the conduct of some of those prominently implione side, and to train the children as Protestants. In cated in the transactions which have ended in this the end the matter was brought into the courts of disastrous and shameful failure. "The enemy" has law-the wife appealing against the husband, the not lost the opportunity of pointing with scornful husband seeking to establish his authority against the finger at the hollowness and rottenness of a piety the wishes of the wife. The decision was given, and after- professors of which, like the Pharisees, could devour wards confirmed, in accordance with the principle widows' houses and for a pretence make long prayers. which we have already explained, and Mr. Ellis was The worst of a case like this is that the justice of such allowed to withdraw the children from the care of reproaches must be, at least in some measure, adtheir mother, and to arrange for their education in his mitted. But those who are most ready to cast the own religious tenets. It would be useless to dwell reproach are not generally so ready to remember the upon the unhappiness to all concerned to which such testimony to genuine Christian principle and libera state of things must inevitably give rise. But the ality which is afforded by the widespread willingness case exemplifies the importance of a warning often to help those who are overtaken by calamity and given, but often heedlessly or perversely neglected, plunged into unexpected poverty. As we write we with regard to marriages between persons of radical learn that the total subscription to the City of Glasdifferences in religious opinions. In the hey-day of gow Bank Relief Fund already amounts to more youth, and in the glow of youthful ardour, such dif- than £306,000. It will be found when the time for ferences may be lightly regarded-they may seem to the analysis of these gifts comes, that at least a large sink into insignificant proportions, and a ready inge- proportion of them have sprung directly from the nuity will devise many ways in which practical colli- operation of appeals to distinctly Christian motives sion and inconvenience may be escaped; but the and principles. If we lament the collapse of the cruelty of the situation is that when the irretrievable bank because of the dishonesty which it discloses, we step has been taken, in proportion as the real gravity ought also to take account of the signs of some better of religious convictions may come to be felt, in that thing which this munificent sympathy, at a time of proportion will the difficulty which has been created great depression and difficulty, certainly reveals. It be realised in all its painfulness, in all its separating is to Jesus Christ that we owe the heart thus to bear force. In proportion as the parents increase in con- one another's burdens.

LIBRARIES AND READING-ROOMS FOR POST-OFFICE
SERVANTS.

them above the temptations offered by evil places of

resort.

MANSION HOUSE BENEVOLENT FUND.

Some figures recently made public show that the amount contributed towards benevolent objects, on behalf of which funds have been formed at the Mansion House, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, has been during the last three years about £618,000. The amount collected during the year of office of Lord Mayor Cotton was £38,000, the subscriptions being for the Thames Inundation, the Goliath Warspite, and Thunderer Funds, and the Eastern War Sufferers' Relief Fund. During Alderman Sir T. White's year of office a sum of £495,000 was raised for charitable purposes. The principal fund was, of course, the Indian Famine Fund, the other collections being for the West of England inundations, the Shipping Disasters, and the Fire at St. John's, New Brunswick. In the year just closed (Sir Thomas S. Owden's) the total is about £85,000, being in respect of the Eurydice Fund, £5,700; the Princess Alice, £47,500; the Abercarne Colliery Fund, £31,000; and the Haydock Colliery Fund, £1,000.

The following statement with regard to the fund for the sufferers from the collision of the Princess Alice steamboat has also been issued :—

An excellent work, worthy of imitation elsewhere, has been done in the east of London, by the establishment of a circulating library and reading-room for the use of the public servants engaged in the Post and Telegraph Offices of that large district. The movement was started about two years ago, and had its origin among the officers of the Eastern District Post-office. Previous to that time no library had existed in connection with that office, and it was found that "good, instructive, and entertaining literature was beyond the reach of nearly all the numerous staff of men and boys," while a great many oí the boys were in the habit of vitiating both their taste and their morals by reading pernicious publications. Others, eager for mental improvement, greatly needed the help and direction in their efforts which a good library can afford. It was felt that great service would be rendered to letter-carriers, whose work is exhausting and liable to be succeeded by mental apathy as well as physical weariness, and to many other servants of the post-office whose labours are very monotonous, if opportunity could be given them to read bright, cheerful, and useful books. An appeal for help in carrying out the undertaking was made to the public, which met at once with a cordial response, not only from business firms and private persons in the district, but also from friends elsewhere, and from publishing houses, book societies, and authors. The gratifying result was the acquisition of upwards of four thousand volumes, nearly all being standard works in the various departments of literature. Half of these have been retained at the chief district office, and the rest have been put into circulation among the branch and suburban offices. At the chief office a room has been fitted up in a suitable manner as a library, and is also supplied with magazines and newspapers. The subscription has been fixed at one halfpenny a week for telegraph messengers, and one penny a week for letter-carriers and others. The management of the institution, which was formally opened by Sir E. H. Currie a few months ago, is in the hands of a staff of officers consisting of secretary, treasurer, general librarian, | librarians, six committee men, and three auditors. It is hoped that the work of the institution will be developed in various ways, as means and opportunities present themselves. We cordially commend this enterprise to the attention of post-office servants, especially heads of departments, in other districts. In many of our large centres of population and busi-and teaching given there are of a decidedly Romish ness, a similar work might be done with great advantage, and at the cost of a comparatively small outlay of money and effort. For young men and lads who earn small wages, and many of whom have but few home-comforts, a comfortable reading-room and a good library are an inestimable boon, often inducing them to make good use of spare hours which would otherwise be worse than wasted, and giving them opportunities and means of enjoyment which lift

"A little over £37,000 has been received. Of this the committee have distributed to widows, £5,475; to widowers, £4,740; to dependent relatives, £5,538; to survivors, £555; and in temporary relief, £600. It was decided to purchase the admission of ninetyseven or ninety-eight orphans into various public orphanages, where they will remain till they are fifteen years of age, and to make payments in cases where, from ill-health or otherwise, and from over age, the children are unable to be admitted into institutions, and where the relatives will be obliged to keep them. This will cost between £15,000 and £16,000. In all, two hundred and forty cases have been disposed of with that result. The fund will be barely sufficient to satisfy all claims."

"CLERICALISM AND THE ENGLISH CLERGY. Attention has been called by public correspondence and by articles in the newspapers, to the character of the training which is given to the students of Cuddesdon College, an institution for the education cf ministers for the Church of England. The college, which is in the diocese of Oxford, and of which the Bishop of Oxford is the visitor, is known to be closely associated with the ritualistic organization called the Church Union; and it is alleged that the discipline

character and tendency. It is stated that the young men entering the ranks of the clergy from this institution are generally of the most advanced ritualistic type, and that several of them have passed over to the Church of Rome. A number of influential noblemen and gentlemen have, under these circumstances, called the attention of the Bishop of Oxford to these notorious facts, and have begged that steps may be taken to correct the state of things of which

people who have plenty to eat and to drink often
look pinched and shivering, the temptation of the
gin-shop and public-house have a terrible fascination
for multitudes of miserably clad and half-fed folk,
who, in the attempt to gain temporary warmth and
alleviation of their misery, too often fritter away the
small resources which, wisely used, might at least do
something to secure a more real and permanent com-
fort. We shall therefore make no apology for once
again mentioning the good counteractive work which
is being done by Coffee Public-house Associations
in various parts of the country, and reminding those
who have leisure and capability of the valuable ser-
vice which may be done by promoting and multiply-
ing these alternatives to the "pot-house " and the
gin palace. It is a good and kindly custom also
which some Christian people have, in London,
Liverpool, and other large towns, of providing, in
convenient school-rooms and other buildings, a
weekly breakfast on Sunday mornings for the ex-
tremely poor, and in connection with this holding a
short and suitable religious service for those who
attend. The breakfast may be of the simplest kind
-a cup of coffee or cocoa and a good roll or piece of
bread, may serve. If generous spirits provide some-
thing rather more bountiful, no harm is done. With
invitations to this "feast," let kind, sympathetic mes-
sengers go out into the streets and lanes of the
city," and there will be no need to "compel them to
come in.”
come in." Such a form of hospitality will answer
many good ends; it is a practical observance of the
rule of Christ concerning feast-giving; it comforts
many poor hungry creatures who often have to go
without breakfasts altogether; it affords access to
many who may be lifted out of their low estate by
judicious counsel and assistance; and it affords a
favourable opportunity for telling the story of Christ
and His great love to many who sadly need the good
news, but are very unlikely to attend ordinary preach-
ing. In such an enterprise a little money will go a
long way, and the chief requirement is tact and true
Christian compassion. Never mind the sneer of
those who call this giving people a bribe to come to
public worship, and who disdainfully prophesy that
the only result will be the manufacture and encourage-

hey are the manifest indication. Upon the other hand, there has been a sort of general disclaimer on the part of the principal of the college and also of three hundred former students, of the charges preferred against the institution. At first the Bishop appeared quite disposed to accept this disclaimer as sufficiently satisfactory, and to decline to take any further steps in the matter. We are not aware whether he has yet seen reason for altering his decision; but we scarcely think that the questions which have been raised can be shelved in this easy manner. Certainly it is of the profoundest interest to members of the Protestant Church of EnglandProtestant to its very heart as well as in its practice and creed-to be assured that the sources from which they derive their supply of ministers are not poisoned by the pernicious doctrines and usages which are characteristic of the Papal Church. And when charges are made by persons of character and responsibility, and of known attachment to their religious communion, such as those which have been made against the teaching and régime at Cuddesdon, something more than a mere disclaimer from the persons implicated is surely required. It has lately been remarked by a shrewd observer and able critic of ecclesiastical affairs, himself a staunch Churchman, that nothing is more noteworthy than the growth of " clericalism" during the past few years among the clergy of the Established Church. By clericalism is meant the predominance of the priestly idea—the view of the office and functions of the Church, the Christian ministry and Christian doctrine, which a sad and bitter experience has shown to be disastrous in its effect upon the general sense of personal responsibility, and which has proved to act as a blight upon the religious faith and intelligence of the communities in which it has prevailed. How strongly these doctrines, when held by members of the Church of England, tend Romewards, is continually being shown by the passing over of converts to that Church, and has lately been illustrated prominently in the case of Mr. Orbey | Shipley, who, after having for years actively laboured for the diffusion of "High Church" teaching in the Anglican communion, has now gone over to Rome. The office of the Christian minister is one of high honour and responsibility; but these priestly assump-ment of hypocrites. tions are a mere travesty of the truth, and the doctrines and usages with which they are associated strike a death-blow at all that is best and most distinctive in the Protestant faith. The future spread of this baneful malady in the Established Church will depend greatly upon the use which the Bishops make of their great influence with regard to movements and tendencies such as those which seem to find sanction and impetus in Cuddesdon College. In this respect we rejoice in the bold stand for Protestantism made by the new Bishop of Rochester, and we hope the laity of his diocese will give him their heartiest support.

A WAY OF HELPING THE POOREST.

During these winter days when the bitter cold often finds its way through good warm clothing, when

THE WEEK OF UNITED PRAYER.

For the past thirty-two years the members of the Evangelical Alliance have been in the habit of using the opportunities and influence of their widely extended organization in order to promote meetings for special and united prayer during the first week of each succeeding January. Their circular has once again reached us with its list of suggested topics "for daily exhortation and intercession," and bearing many wellknown signatures, representing the various branches of the Evangelical Alliance in many parts of the world. The week now arranged for begins on Sunday, the 5th of January, and closes on the evening of the 12th. This mode of marking the advent of a new year is in every way appropriate and desirable for the

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Christian Church. Our common personal necessities, and the claims of the times in which we live, may well urge us to common supplication, and our assurance of the love of our Divine Father, and of the intercession of our great High Priest, gives us abundant encouragement.

II.-GLANCES ABROAD.

THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.

England drew the sword against Afghanistan on the 21st of November, 1878. When it will be sheathed again, or what momentous issues will follow from this act, who will venture to prophesy? We do not enter here upon the thorny path of political discussion to which the course taken by the Viceroy of India and her Majesty's Government has opened the way. Such an event, however, throws Christian people into many strange perplexities; and those perplexities are not reduced in number or strangeness by the hot debates which are going on within the

walls of Parliament while we write these lines, as to whether the war ought ever to have been begun at all. Sooner or later that question will have to be answered, and answered in accordance with the English —we will rather say the Christian-sense of justice

and right. To those who are outside the circles of diplomacy, and who hesitate to jump to the conclusion that "whatever is, is right," this Afghan war seems to bear an unpleasant and suspicious family resemblance to other wars in which we have engaged at different times. In too many instances we have

first drawn the sword and then afterwards tried to discover a justification or at least a reason for doing so and have failed! Meantime, we have no joyous zest in reading of "brilliant victories," or in observing the signs of that intoxication which a career of conquest and bloodshed too readily produces. We cannot, indeed, wish that our armies should be defeated in battle, that our soldiers should be other than brave, or that our officers should fail in the hour

of responsibility and trial. Thus far, the loss of life in the struggles which have taken place on the Afghan frontier has been comparatively small, and

the British forces have had an unchecked career of victory over an ill-matched foe. Whether the struggle has only yet begun, or whether the Ameer will make a stand in his capital against the invader

next spring, is still uncertain. In any case, although our troops may show valour and endurance, there is no "glory" to be won-very little even in a military sense-by fighting such a foe, and we cannot but look with apprehension and sorrow upon the course upon which we have entered. When once men "let slip the dogs of war," they cannot define and restrict the havoc which will ensue. In one petition—for the speedy restoration of peace—all Christian people can agree, and this petition ought earnestly to be offered by us all.

THE KING OF ITALY AND HIS PEOPLE.

The attempt which was made one day in November to assassinate the King of Italy, as he was making

his entry into the city of Naples, was as clumsy as it was detestable. There are only two or three instances in history in which the work of the assassin can be defended with even a show of plausibility, and generally speaking such a crime is an evidence either of madness or of cowardly and atrocious wickedness. The would-be assassin of the King of Italy was a young man, of humble position in life. He seems to have been strongly under the influence of extreme socialist doctrines, and as one step towards rectifying the inequalities of position which he desired to level, he made a thrust at the King with a dagger which he had fastened to a flag-staff. The thrust was a failure, and carried off to prison. The immediate effect of this rash and wicked attempt was to elicit from the whole of Italy a burst of loyal enthusiasm, such as

and of course the man was arrested the next moment

even that land of the south, which in our time has

been the scene of so many affecting and wonderful displays of feeling, has rarely witnessed. The Italian people have a deep attachment to the reigning House of Savoy, to which, in the persons of Albert and of Victor Emmanuel, notwithstanding their personal faults, the country owes so much. The present King Humbert is regarded with confidence and hope, and his Queen has won the hearts of the people entirely. The Italians are working their way, slowly and not without mistakes, but upon the whole steadily, to constitutional freedom, and to the development of a national life which has come forth, as from the grave, from the chills, the darkness, and the decay which accompanied petty and corrupt despotisms and Papal rule. They appreciate the value, under these circumstances, of the personality which represents their national belief in an hereditary sovereignty, and many political considerations blend with personal ones in their gladness that their King was spared.

GENEVA AND THE CHURCH OF ROME.

Geneva, ever since the days of William Farel and of Calvin, has had an importance for the intellectual and religious life of the world, and particularly of Europe, out of proportion to that which its political influence or material and numerical strength could have secured. The sturdy spirit of Calvin lingers there still, and maintains a bond between the Protestants of the canton, and especially of the city, and

Puritans all over the world. Changes which have recently been taking place there, greatly affecting the of interest and significance than might at first sight ecclesiastical life of the community, have thus more appear. The elections to the Council which have lately been held have resulted in the complete defeat of the President, M. Carteret, who has long encouraged the "liberal party" among the Roman Catholics, has stringently asserted the authority of the civil power over the religious interests of the community, and has, in short, endeavoured upon a small scale to imitate the policy of Prince Bismarck towards the Ultramontanes of Germany. The little Swiss President has prided himself upon this likeness between his own measures and those of the iron Ger