care.

the week-day meetings. Two persons were necessary at each alteration, and hard work they found it, as all had to be done with expedition and On one occasion, after an interview, where a variety of plans with seating arrangements had been exhibited, the forms being of a short length (about five feet), intended to be made light, so that they could be easily handled, I had hoped that some impression had been made; but on my returning to the place, the gentleman who shewed me the hall after the alterations had been completed, somewhat exultingly remarked, “I like solid, substantial work; no boys will be able to tilt up these forms!" My answer was, "Certainly not; nor men either, seeing that they are fifteen feet long, and screwed to the floor!" An arrangement of this kind may answer well enough for a prayer meeting, but it is not adapted for the varied purposes connected with a church, and is especially unsuited for teaching. In another case the teachers took up a suggested re-arrangement very promptly, and had all the forms of a Mission school cut into short lengths, chairs provided for the teachers, and everything else put in order within a week. They found that the better mechanical arrangement saved them a great deal of worry and confusion, to which they had previously been subjected. Several cases have occurred in which suggestions as to new buildings and re-arrangements have borne fruit some years afterwards.

Libraries.-Much can be said in favour of providing a well-selected set of books for the Sabbath reading of young people. Different ideas on this subject are found, according to the prevailing opinions as to how the Sabbath is to be spent. Among the numerous books now published it is not a very difficult matter to make a selection of interesting, useful, instructive, and elevating books of a religious character, that can be put with confidence into the hands of young people; but surely there is no need for church money being spent in providing mere funny books, or books of adventures with lions, tigers, and elephants. People can buy books of this character for themselves. In some places the taste has degenerated very much, to such an extent, indeed, that apparently there have been admitted, without any examination, books whose morality, or rather immorality, is past a doubt. In other places, however, the taste has risen, and a pure, healthy stream of juvenile literature has been introduced.

This subject requires some one in a congregation, society, or school, to make it a hobby, so as to keep a look-out for useful books for young people, and to enter into all the petty details connected with the taking care of them after they have been got, as otherwise they are soon lost, or so much damaged as to become unreadable. A common history of a Sabbath school library in some parts of the country is this,-Some one well able to judge of books, and anxious for the young people, collects money, makes a good selection, and carries on the library successfully for some years. Then comes removal or death; no one is forthcoming at the time to look after his work, the library is kept in the hands of some one who does not know or care much about books, its contents are locked up in a press, tumbled into outof-the-way boxes, left lying about, so that any one may help himself, or they are given out, and never asked for again; and in these ways two-thirds or the whole of the library disappears. In one instance I found a library

which, according to the catalogue, had contained 300 volumes, with only twenty-five remaining; all the rest had disappeared in about three years. More than once I have had disentombed from boxes and presses good books, that had not been opened for a considerable time, all in the direst confusion, and covered with mildew. Many books are lost by people removing, and taking them with them, and many more by their being left lying neglected about houses without being called in. On one occasion, after a pulpit intimation had been made at my suggestion, nearly 100 volumes were returned within a week in twos and threes,-one family sending in seven volumes that had been missing for months. It may also be noted, that as modern binding, however tasteful and showy, is not always of the strongest, and a book is apt to part company with its cover, a judicious and timely application of a little paste or glue will save many a leaf or volume from an untimely end.

In some congregations, both in town and country, libraries were managed so thoroughly and systematically as to leave no room for anything but the expression of perfect satisfaction.

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Correspondence. I have had much correspondence in answer to queries of all kinds, on such subjects as libraries, seating arrangements, training classes, Bible classes, books for teachers and children, the proper size of classes, picnics, soirees, strawberry feasts, amusements, study, quality of teachers, quality of teaching, prayer, conversion, music, &c. A few of these questions may be given in illustration:-"How much space would you allow for a class?" Ans. "You have forgotten to say what the size of the class is; but if it contains eight or nine children, allow, if possible, a square of six feet by six." "Should persons of good moral character, but who have made no profession of religion, be allowed to teach in the Sabbath school?" "We have hitherto been very sparing with our treats for the children, in order to avoid the appearance of bribery, and have lost several of our scholars owing to some of our neighbours being more lavish in that respect; should we swim with the tide, or what?" Do you approve of Sabbath school teachers and Christian workers finishing up their meetings with dancing? It was carried in the negative at our last meeting, at which some hot words passed, and the subject is to be brought up again next week. Whichever way the matter is settled, it is likely to cause some dispeace." "In whose hands ought to lie the choice or election of the teachers and office-bearers in a Sabbath school?" "Could you help us with a detailed plan or plans for carrying on a teachers' training class?" "Is it expedient to give an address every Sabbath at the close of the school?" Questions such as these, as well as others of a much graver and more important character, require generally to be answered at full length. My correspondents, however, are apt to forget that each letter of reply costs a penny, and that pennies run up to pounds. I am but seldom favoured with a stamped envelope for a reply, the whole amount received in this way during the year being in postage stamps-fourpence.

Visitation of Schools. When the hours of meeting differ very much, it has sometimes been possible to visit five or six schools in one Sabbath. In those places, however, where all meet at or about the same hour, the visitation of two or three is necessarily the limit, especially when an address is expected at each. Occasionally, when time permitted, I have had oppor

tunities of going through several classes in a school, teaching each a part of the Bible lesson in presence of the teacher for a short time. I have also been able to detain two or three classes at the close of the school hour, and to give them a short lesson in presence of all the teachers, a step which has been the means of calling attention to the training of teachers, and starting meetings for that purpose. When I had on one occasion made an experiment in this way on two classes at the close of a school, some of the teachers expressed their surprise and pleasure at the freedom and readiness with which their children spoke and replied to questions, saying that they did not answer them in the same way. I replied that much depended on the manner in which questions were asked, so as to make them natural and simple, and indicated that the teaching in the day schools was an admirable training for the catechising of the Sabbath school.

Having in several cases obtained the permission of School Boards and teachers, I have been enabled to address many hundreds of young people at the "religious hour,”—in this way getting an opportunity of speaking to many who are not attending any Sabbath school.

There are many things connected with our congregations, Sabbath schools, and Bible classes which might be improved. It would be a great advantage if a more stable body of teachers could be secured. The youthfulness of so many makes the changes in the roll very great, owing to removals and marriages. More care might be taken in following up young people when they leave a locality, and in endeavouring to get them to attach themselves to a congregation, class, or school. When they come to a new congregation, they should not be merely looked at and neglected, but cordially welcomed. Some ministers, office-bearers, and teachers have been remarkably successful by shewing a little kindly attention, and thus influencing young people for their good.

It should be noticed, as some one remarks, “That when young people go to a place of amusement they are apt to be spoken to the very first night; but not unfrequently, particularly in a town, they may sit for months every Sabbath in a church without any one taking notice of them." A young man said that when he came from the country to the town he sat for two years in a church before being spoken to, and as he was of a bashful disposition he had not the courage to make up to any of his fellowmembers.

I have to give my cordial thanks to many friends, who spared neither time nor trouble in endeavouring to promote the object of this Mission. CHARLES S. INGLIS.

12 DICK PLACE, GRANGE,

EDINBURGH.

The Wonderful Book: its Triumphs.

(FIRST ARTICLE.)

By the REV. DAVID THOMPSON, Appledore, Devon.

TRIUMPH is a word of joyous ring; few, however, have seen its realization. Triumphs are not of the same extent or the same in kind. A child

triumphs over a difficulty; a full-grown person secures some honourable reward; a nation is successful on the field of battle;-these triumphs vary in degree. In some cases triumphs are more sensuous, in others more mental, and in others more spiritual.

That divine book-the Bible-gives in its own pages examples of triumphs. Indeed, from first to last it is a Book of triumph. The Jews had many exciting victories, but the greatest of all is that gained by Christ. To some Jesus was a defeat; to us He is all victory. We have in Him the triumph of mystery over reason-the God-Man; of light over darkness-the Sun of Righteousness; of poverty over riches-for our sakes becoming poor to make us rich; of wisdom over ignorance-"never man spake like this man;" of goodness over misery-going about doing good; of suffering and death over disease and death and hell; and of the Cross-the highest triumph, when the words are heard, "It is finished," Satan is vanquished, the door of heaven is opened, and God becomes reconciled to man. Him, also, we have the triumph of the resurrection, when He receives the keys of mortality and of the invisible world, and becomes Lord of the dead and living; the triumph of the ascension, when clouds become His chariot, and angels His attendants; and when He takes His seat as a Prince and Saviour, and gives the gift of the Spirit, that multiplies triumphs all over the world and throughout the ages.

In

We have been particular in referring to these triumphs, because to them spiritual triumphs owe their strength and glory. Take Christ and His Cross out of the Bible, and it is powerless for good. But the Bible with Christ and His Cross is a Divine power, and nothing can stand before it.

If we look at the Bible merely as a printed book, there is triumph in its style, rhetoric, imagery, eloquence, truths, histories, doctrines, and precepts. George Herbert, in his grotesque poem, may well speak of it as heaven in perspective; as the looking-glass of the soul; the great magazine of spiritual arms; God's cabinet of revealed counsel; the index of eternity, having divinity belonging to it; yea, as the God of books. In its range of thought there is triumph; for the revelations stretch from the beginning to the end of earth's history-it is a bridge that spans all time. In its age there is triumph; for not only its truths, but the Book itself, is the oldest in the world: other books are lost, this one lives; and although age after age men have sought to destroy it, yet it survives their fury, and speaks defiance to all their attacks. In its unity there is triumph; for notwithstanding its many writers and its endless subjects, there is great harmony-an unbroken whole; all turning to one magnet, and everything pointing to One Person.

ter.

The Bible has won many triumphs by its effects on the human characThat men are depraved is denied. Some would have us believe that when born our heart is like a white sheet of paper, and that we can write there whatever we please. They tell us that we are creatures of circumstances, and that our characters are according to our surroundings. This is in direct opposition to the Bible. There we are said to be "conceived in sin, and brought forth in iniquity." It is also opposed to universal experience. By nature man is opposed to God. But the Bible triumphs over human depravity. Its truths, carried home by the Spirit

to the heart, give conversion. Every glorified saint in heaven, and every redeemed sinner on earth, speaks the victory of God's truth. Take one case. You have heard of the great and good Augustine, whose thoughts and meditations are rivers of delight to many hearts. In the spring of the year 372, when in the thirty-first year of his age, he enters his garden in great distress of mind. The sins of a youth spent in sensuality and impiety weighed heavy on his soul. Lying under a fig tree, moaning and pouring out abundant tears, he heard from a neighbouring house a youthful voice, saying, "Take and read-take and read." Receiving this as a Divine admonition, he returned to the place where he left his friend Alypius, to procure the roll of St. Paul's Epistles, which he had a short time before left with him. "I seized the roll," says he; "I opened it, and read in silence the chapter on which my eyes first alighted. It was the 13th of Romans-'Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.' I did not want to read any more," says he; "nor was there any need; every doubt was vanished." The Morning Star had risen in his heart. In the language of Gaussen, "Jesus had conquered; and the grand career of Augustine, the holiest of the Fathers, then commenced. A passage of God's Word had kindled that glorious luminary which was to enlighten the Church for ten centuries, and whose beams gladden her even to this present day. After thirty-one years of revolt, of combats, of falls, of misery,-faith, life, eternal peace, came to this erring soul: a new day, an eternal day, came upon it." Observe what Augustine says of the Bible: "Wonderful are the depths of thine own oracles! Behold how their surface charms little ones; but wonderful depth, O my God, what wonderful depth! One shudders at the contemplation of it—a thrill of reverence and trembling love!"

Again: consider the triumph gained by the sustaining and comforting power of the Bible. The evils of life are numerous. "Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward." Amid these multiplied and varied troubles, the Bible's truths are a cordial and balm-a joy and a life. The value of the Scriptures can be found in the cottages of the poor, on beds of affliction, under the heaviest bereavement, and when most lonesome and friendless. Many examples might be given; but we especially desire to call attention to martyr-triumphs of the truth. Some know what may be called the transfiguration of Hugh Mackail-how, in suffering and in death, he was an illumination. First subjected at his trial to the diabolical torture of the boots, an instrument of cruelty made of four pieces of narrow boards nailed together, of size sufficient to contain the leg. Into this case the leg was enclosed, then wedges were driven down with a hammer, causing intolerable pain, frequently mangling the limb in a shocking manner, and even forcing the marrow from the bone. The angelic Mackail received ten or eleven strokes without any expression of impatience; his cheerfulness never forsook him. Some having asked how his shattered limb was, he replied, "The fear of my neck now maketh me forget my leg." He prayed with and encouraged his fellow-sufferers, frequently exclaiming, "What, Lord, shall be the end of these wonders?"