A CANDIDATES' CLASS for the study of the Text Books prescribed for next Examination in Branch B-" CHRISTIAN EVIDENCES,"-viz.: Nos. 1 and 3 of "Present Day Tracts," by REV. PRINCIPAL CAIRNS, D.D., entitled "Christianity and Miracles," and "Christ the Central Evidence of Christianity,"-will be commenced in the CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE, Bothwell Street, ROOM No. 7, on the Evening of Sabbath, 1st February, at 7 o'clock. This Class will be under the care of WILLIAM SCOBIE, ESQ., M.A., and will be continued throughout the Sabbath Evenings of February and the first part of March.

A CANDIDATES' CLASS for the study of the Text Book prescribed in Branch C"PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHING," for next Examination, March 20th,-viz.: "Groser's Sunday School Manual," Chapters ix. to xiv. inclusive,-will be commenced in the CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE, Bothwell Street, Room No. 7, on the Evening of Thursday, 5th February, at 8 o'clock, and continued till 12th March. This Class will be under the care of DAVID Ross, Esq., M. A., B.Sc., Principal of the Established Normal Training College.

Intending Candidates are reminded that the Examinations in the respective branches will be held in the GLASGOW HIGH SCHOOL, Elmbank Street, on the first, second, and third Friday Evenings of March next, as follows:

BRANCH A.-SCRIPTURE HISTORY AND DOCTRINE.-Subjects of Examination: the Bible Lessons in the Glasgow Sabbath School Union's Lesson Scheme, from May till December, 1884, inclusive.-Friday, 6th March, from 8 till 10 p.m.

BRANCH B.-CHRISTIAN EVIDENCES.-Subject of Examination: Nos. 1 and 3 of "Present Day Tracts," by REV. PRINCIPAL CAIRNS, D.D., entitled "Christianity and Miracles;" and "Christ the Central Evidence of Christianity," 4d. each.-Friday, 13th March, from 8 till 10 p.m.

BRANCH C.-PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHING.-Subject of Examination : "Groser's Sunday School Manual," (2s. 6d.,) Chapters ix. to xiv., inclusive,-Friday, 20th March, from 8 till 10 p.m.

Note.-The Classes for the study of the Subjects prescribed in Branches B and C, will be formed only in the event of a sufficient number of Candidates presenting themselves on the opening nights for enrolment.

Intending Candidates are referred for particulars as to prizes for the best sets of answers in each subject, to page 2 of the cover of the Sabbath School Magazine for January. Names of intending Candidates must be sent to MR. THOMAS GRAY, F.E.I.S., No. 7 TAN II 2M, CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE, 70 Bothwell Street, not later than 1st March.

2

MR. QUARRIER'S ORPHAN HOMES OF SCOTLAND.

Contributions from Sabbath School Societies to 14th January, 1885.

For New Slides, see Supplement just Issued. 53 ST. VINCENT STREET, GLASGOW,

Third Shop West from Buchanan Street.

THE

Sabbath School Magazine.

NO. II.]

FEBRUARY 2, 1885.

[VOL. XXXVII.

The Love of Children.

By the REV. J. H. PATERSON, Dumbarton.

SUCH questions as the "Religious Training of the Young," "The Power and Place of Sabbath Schools," "The Helps that lie to the Hands of Sabbath School Teachers," and other subjects of a similar nature, have been more or less freely discussed. In view of this fact I desire to direct attention to a question that gives force and distinction to everything bearing upon the religious education of the young. Without it the best means are feeble in our hands, with it comparatively meagre instrumentalities and accomplishments may succeed in a marked degree: I mean "The Love of Children." By this you are not to understand the love that lies in the hearts of the little ones for us; but the love which we have for them, and which constrains us to labour in their interest with unremitting energy and sacrifice.

Love for children is a native feeling of the soul, implanted there by the hand of God for wise and beneficent ends. It is thus the rich possession of the race, and shews itself in places and persons where least expected. As a principle of being it is not the growth or the result of education,— even of Christian education.

You are familiar with Bret Harte's story, "The Luck of Roaring Camp." Roaring Camp is the name given to a settlement of golddiggers. It was far from any community of miners, and was frequented by the roughest of the rough. Some of them were felons; all of them were reckless. In this rude camp a child was born, whose mother survived the birth only an hour. What was to be done with the child? The diggers gathered in council. One of their number-"Stumpy" he was called-constituted himself the guardian of the orphan, and begged his fellows to put something into a hat for the support of his charge. These rough vile men readily responded to the call, but in rather a curious fashion. This was what they put into the hat: A silver tobacco box; a navvy revolver, silver mounted; a gold specimen; a beautifullyembroidered lady's handkerchief, (from Oakhurst, the gambler); a

B

diamond breast-pin; a diamond ring; a slung shot; a Bible; a golden spur; a silver tea-spoon, (the initials, I regret to say, were not the giver's); a pair of surgeon's shears; a lancet; a Bank of England note for £5; and about 200 dollars in loose gold and silver coin.” The child must have a name, and so he was called Luck. He was the darling of the camp, and for his dear sake not one of those rude men but would have risked his life any day. One night a fearful flood caused the river to burst its banks and inundate the valley. On came the rushing waters to the camp, sweeping all before them. Cabins and huts were ruthlessly carried away; and Luck!—where was he? Let Bret Harte tell his own story:-"When the morning broke the cabin of Stumpy, nearest the river bank, was gone. Higher up the gulch they found the body of the unlucky owner; but the pride, the hope, the joy, the Luck of Roaring Camp had disappeared. They were returning with sad hearts, when a shout from the bank recalled them. It was a relief-boat from down the river. They had picked up, they said, a man and an infant, nearly exhausted, about two miles below. Did they belong here? It needed but a glance to shew them Kentuck lying there, cruelly crushed and bruised, but still holding the Luck of Roaring Camp in his arms. As they bent over the strangely-assorted pair, they saw that the child was cold and pulseless. 'He is dead,' said one. Kentuck opened his eyes. 'Dead!' he repeated feebly. 'Yes, my man; and you are dying, too.' 'Dying!' he repeated; 'he's taking me with him. Tell the boys I have got the Luck with me now;' and the strong man, still clinging to the frail babe, as a drowning man is said to cling to a straw, drifted away into the shadowy river that flows for ever to the unknown sea."

I have not referred to this pathetic little tale for effect, but for evidence that love of children is a feeling woven into the texture of our being by Him in whose image and after whose likeness we are made, and is never entirely obliterated at least this side the grave.

But, like all the higher moral and spiritual instincts, this feeling may be, and often is, seriously perverted and corrupted. It can be abused, rendered indifferent and inactive. Crushed and "battered down" by the gross and the sensual, its existence, in some instances, has been questioned and denied. But though inactive it is not extinct. It is still there, only buried too deep under lust and passion to rise up in response to the voice of innocence and helplessness. The thirst for God is a native instinct of the heart, an impulse common to the race of men. And though we must confess that the feeling is oftentimes silenced beneath a multiplicity of cares, or the grosser attractions of the sensual appetite, it is never wholly obliterated. Active or passive it dwells in all, part of the native furnishings of their being, either a pain or a blessing. The same is true of the feeling of love for children. We may degrade and silence it through a course of immoral conduct, so that it will neither be heard or seen; but we cannot root it out of the nature as we would a tree from the earth, or an evil from the heart. It is part of our immortal selves, and is indestructible. By the way, it has often struck me that on this native feeling the lever of divine love in Christ might frequently find a basis to raise men and women out of the pit of selfishness and sin on to the Rock of Ages.