voured to suppress her painful emotions, "what cannot be avoided must be endured with resignation and patience. We shall miss many things, especially our little garden; but we have got accustomed to these enjoyments why cannot we become inured to the new circumstances which necessity imposes upon us?"

"Where are we going, father?" asked William.

"It is outside the great gate," he replied. "Mother need not trouble herself about the garden, for there is one attached to the house. It will need a little toil to put it into order, for the entire spot is in a very neglected condition. It belongs to Mr. Hellwig, and has not been occupied for some time; he has, therefore, let me have it at a reasonable rent." "I know the place,” added William. "The house is not very beautiful, father; but it is in a pleasant situation, surrounded with green fields, and has a fine prospect, too."

"At all events, the rent is low," said Father Muller, "and that, just now, is the most important consideration."

Much more was said about the house, and William laid down various plans by which, without expense, it might be made neat and comfortable. The thoughts of the parents were occupied with other matters, and they gave only a divided attention to the schemes of their children; soon, however, they began to manifest a deeper interest in their plans, and threw in a word now and then, until at last the new habitation became the all-engrossing theme; and when the hour of rest arrived, their grief, on account of leaving their old house, if not entirely gone, was at least much subdued. Early on the following morning they began to remove. they had nearly completed their task, and Father Muller to take a last look at the dwelling they loved so much. went once more through the garden, and took a peep at were their feelings as they were about to cross the threshold for the last time. The sun had already begun to sink below the horizon, and his last golden rays entered the window and fell upon the walls of the room from which they were sorrowfully turning away. A small portrait which had been overlooked in the bustle, received the full benefit of the now-fading light.

Towards evening came with his son The whole family every room. Sad

"The portrait of our great-grandfather!" exclaimed William. "We must take it with us; that surely must not be left here."

At these words the parents turned round and looked at the picture, which was still illumined by the rays of the setting sun.

"You are right, William," said his father; "the old gentleman must not hang there; he seems to reproach us for leaving him behind. He will be difficult to remove, however, for the frame is let into the wall; fetch a chisel and hammer, and I will borrow a ladder from some of the neighbours."

In a few moments, chisel, hammer, and ladder were at hand, and Father Muller ascended to the old portrait, and carefully endeavoured to separate the frame from the wall; but it was so deeply embedded that it could not be removed without injuring the ceiling to which it was so firmly attached.

"This is unfortunate," said Father Muller, as his arm sunk, and he looked round with an air of disappointment. "It would cost half a thaler to make the wall right again, and we have not much money to spare; still I feel reluctant to leave it, for some rough hand would soon cover it with whitewash."

"No, father, don't leave it," cried the children; and the frugal mother also thought that twelve groschen would not be mis-spent in securing the portrait.

“Well, as you wish,” replied Father Muller, resuming his labour. "I should feel sorry myself to leave it for the sake of a few groschen.".

With a vigorous but careful hand he plied the hammer, and the plaster fell rattling to the ground. In a few minutes the work was so far completed that it remained only slightly attached, and was speedily severed by the help of the chisel.

"There, we have it," said he, as a cloud of dust came from behind; "take it, William, and I will come down."

William sprang up the steps of the ladder, and having taken the portrait, was descending, when he was surprised by a general cry of wonder.

"What is the matter?" said he.

"There is a great hole in the wall," replied his father; "only look; it is regularly lined with stones. But what is that?"

With astonishment he gazed, and when the dust had in some measure subsided, he put in his hand and drew forth a paper, the writing of which had grown pale with age.

“What have you there, father? What is it?" they asked with one voice. He threw only a hasty glance at the paper, and then again put his hand into the newly-discovered closet, and brought forth a toleraby large leathern bag.

"This is a wonderful affair, children," said he. "William, place the portrait where it will be safe, and take this bag; it seems likely there is more hidden at the far side."

We can easily imagine how quickly William obeyed, and with what eager curiosity the rest looked towards their father and the hole in the wall; and we may imagine, too, how with difficulty they restrained a cry of astonishment as, one after another, he handed down fifteen leathern bags in form and size exactly like the first.

"There is nothing more, I think," said he, as he gave the fifteenth to William, and passed his hand round the inside of the recess. "We will now see what we can learn about this strange affair, and I hope this paper will furnish us with the desired information. The bags are filled with money, that is certain, for we have heard it jingle plainly enough, and there only remain the questions-How much is there? how has it come here? and to whom does it belong?"

"To whom should it belong but to us?" exclaimed his wife, overjoyed. "We have found it, and found it, too, in our own house; no doubt, therefore, can exist as to who is the owner."

"Nevertheless it is open to question," said Father Muller, as he descended the ladder, and approached the window. "This document, written by our ancestor, may dispose of it in a way very different from that which we wish and hope."

"Why read it ?" exclaimed his wife, hastily. "Tear it in pieces."

"Are you in earnest ?" asked her husband, with evident displeasure. "Is that really your wish, mother?"

The good woman had allowed herself to be carried away by the excitement

140

CONVOCATION IN THE STATE AND FREE CHURCHES.

of the moment, but she immediately saw how unrighteous and sinful was the wish she had expressed, and blushing deeply, said, "Forgive me, my dear husband; the paper must be read, and if the money is really not ours, it is clear enough that we must not keep it."

At these words, the cloud which had come over Father Muller's countenance vanished. "You are right," said he; "honesty is the best policy;' and now that we are agreed beforehand about the disposal of the money, we will endeavour to decipher these faded lines. If it should appear that it belongs to us, we shall be grateful to God, whose providence has led us to the discovery just when we are in greatest need ; and if it belongs to another, the pain of disappointment will be diminished by our being prepared for it."

(To be continued.)

Convocation in the State Church and the Free Church of England.

CONVOCATION in the Established Church is acknowledged by all parties to be a sham. Its deliberations have commanded so little deference, its functions have been so utterly unimportant, that until very recently nobody thought, and nobody cared, about Convocation at all. When it met, it seemed to meet chiefly to adjourn. Its business was so formal, and so thoroughly a matter of routine, so insignificant of the feelings and wishes of the Church, and so devoid of interest, that the briefest possible paragraph in the corners of the daily papers and Church organs, was usually the only notification to the Christian world, that the Convocation of the Church had proved its vitality, by meeting to part again.

Nor need we be surprised at this when we glance at the anomalous constitution of Convocation in the State Church. The Lower House of Convocation of Canterburyis composed of 145 members. Of these, roughly speaking, it may be said, that one-third are nominees of the Crown, another third ex officio members or nominees of the bishops, and the other third the representatives of the parochial clergy. Convocation, therefore, has in its very essence two radical defects. It largely ignores the Scriptural, New Testament, Apostolic, and primitive, elective principle in Church Government, and it assumes the false and pernicious principle that the clergy are "the Church." The nominees of the Crown, the nominees of the bishops, and the chosen of the clergy are all clerics. Not a single layman holds office, or has a vote in Convocation. The laity are entirely ignored. The prevailing sacerdotal idea in the constitution of the body totally expels the lay element. The clergy are the Church, Convocation, everything; the laity are nothing The Convocation of Canterbury, therefore, is unsatisfactory to the parochial clergy, because they think themselves inadequately represented; and it is unsatisfactory to the laity, because they are not represented

at all. It does not, in fact, represent, and, therefore, cannot express, the wishes of either. Its deliberations, its projects, and even its solemn resolutions, make no visible impression upon the general action of the Church. It has literally been harmless, simply because it did nothing; and if it had done something, it would have been equally harmless, because no one would have obeyed it. It is now attempting to assert a traditional, antiquated authority, and in the attempt is stirring up the jealousy of the clergy and the disgust of the laity. In times of momentous import-in times when Romanism and Ritualism are occupying, one by one, the best and richest positions in the Establishment, English Protestant laymen find themselves powerless and speechless, uninfluential, and unrepresented in the Parliament of their Church.

But Convocation in the Free Church of England is something very different to this, both in its constitution and effect. It embraces to the full extent the elective principle, and recognizes unreservedly the Apostolic idea that the Church is composed of the laity as well as of the clergy, having equal rights, and their respective privileges and duties. Convocation, therefore, in the Free Church of England is what it professes to be a deliberative, representative assembly. It exercises the powers and functions which it professes to have as the authorized ultimate governing power in the Church. In the Free Church of England, Convocation, therefore, is a reality. By its Deed-poll, Byelaws, and usage, all bishops have seats at Convocation. The bishops are representative, being elected by their fellow presbyters. All presbyters or clergy have seats at Convocation; they are representative, as being elected by their several congregations. All churchwardens, deacons, sidesmen, or managers, have seats at Convocation, and they are representative, as being elected by their fellow laymen in the Church. Convocation in the Free Church of England is, therefore, an elected, representative body of the whole Church, and not of the mere clerical part of the Church. In the Convocation of Canterbury the laity are entirely excluded. In the Convocation of the Free Church of England the laity largely preponderate. This is as it should be, seeing that whilst clergy and laity are all members of the Church, the laity, are in proportion to the clergy, as three hundred to one.

CONVOCATION OF THE FREE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

A report of the meeting of Convocation, held at Spa-fields on the 25th, and of the Ordination Service held at Christ Church, Teddington, on the 26th ult., will appear in our next.

Correspondence.

A SOUTHERN LAYMAN'S VISIT TO THE FREE CHURCHES IN THE NORTH.

To the Editor of the Free Church of England Magazine.

Dear Sir,-During a residence of some months in the North of England, and in Lancashire especially, I have had the great pleasure and satisfaction of visiting several of our new Free Churches, and joining with our dear friends in their worship, schools, &c., and I now desire to bear witness of what I have seen, for the information of those of our brethren in the South of England who have no such opportunity of observation.

I have spent several Sabbaths at Tottington and Oswaldtwistle, one at Wheelton and one at Ulverston, and the first thing that struck me (coming as a stranger from the South) was, the freshness and vigour of their public services. There is a glow and animation about them at once refreshing and inspiriting, and a zeal that is very infectious (and a very good infection it is !)

The second thing that strongly impressed me, was the extent and importance of the Day and Sunday Schools! And with regard to the latter, all hands seem to be workers, high and low, and no idlers permitted; while to hear them sing, with their brilliant Lancashire voices, is enough to rouse any sluggard, and make him sing too

as said the fine old hymn.

"Shouting with heart and voice,
Worthy the Lamb,"

Where all is so excellent, it would be almost invidious to point out any in particular; but I may state that at Tottington our good friend, Rev. J. Brunskill, is happy in being associated with such warm, hospitable, large-hearted and generous friends as the worthy Hugh Roberts, of Sunny Bower, with his excellent wife (whom may the Lord restore to perfect health, for she is spoken of and beloved as a mother in Israel), his sons, and his sons' wives with them! and there are three of them after the fashion of Noah's family! I am afraid it would be taking too great a liberty to call them "Shem, Ham, and Japheth?" but really when they are all assembled, it puts one in mind of patriarchal times. Not forgetting the excellent and most hospitable lady at Brown Hills, Mrs. Rothwell, and her nephew, who is also one of the wardens, and who seems to be always busy. At Oswaldtwistle all is life and vigour. The building is large and well attended, and our dear friend, Rev. J. Bland (so recently bereaved of his excellent wife, whom I had the pleasure of knowing), is happy indeed in the co-operation, guidance, and support of such a liberal and brave "Defender of the Faith" as our friend Wm. Hoghton, Esq., always ready for every good work and labour of love. I found him personally leading the Sunday School, and in all things setting a laborious and self-denying example, and at my last visit, in company with Rev. J. Brunskill, he gave us leave to put down his name for 1,000l. for the new church to be built.

In my blissful ignorance, I mistook the spacious school building, in which divine service is now held, to be "the church ;" and I might well do so, seeing it is well built, and so well fitted up, holding some 1,100 persons, and I was glad to find that it is frequently full.

It is certainly good enough for any church as it is; and for a school, for which it is intended and needed, it is the best school building I ever saw; and this is a subject it would only be false modesty to plead any ignorance about, as many of our friends are aware. But our new church (that is to be) at Oswaldtwistle is to be a noble building, something proper, with a spire and full peal of bells. May