years as Pastor to the St. John's Free Church, through ill-health, he having accepted a pastorate at Worcester, in the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion. Mr. Churchwarden Page moved that it be accepted, and this was seconded by Mr. Churchwarden Doggrell, spoken to by Messrs. R. E. Harris, Lock, and T. L. Harris, and carried. A vote of thanks to the retiring officers, and the Chairman pronouncing the Benediction, brought the meeting to a close. On Thursday evening, April 16th, an interesting and instructive sermon was preached in the church by Mr. Pitman, of Hythe.

Things New and Old.

PITHY REMARKS.-Prayer should be the key of the day, and the lock of the night.--Bishop Berkeley. To persevere in one's duty, and be silent, is the best answer to calumny.-Barron. If God made the world you need not fear that He can't take care of so small a part of it as yourself.-Rev. Edward Taylor. Whosoever does anything to depreciate Christianity is guilty of high treason against the civilisation of mankind.-Macaulay.

AN EXILE HERE.-A holy indifference to present things makes it easy to part with them, and death less fearful. Chrysostom, in a letter to Ciriacus, who was tenderly sensible of his banishment, wrote to him, "You now begin to lament my banishment, but I have done so for a long time; for, since I knew that heaven was my country, I have esteemed the whole earth as a place of exile. Constantinople, from which I am expelled, is as distant from Paradise as the desert to which they send me."

"Not

"NOT IN HIS WAY.”—An old minister once significantly remarked to a young brother who solicited his opinion of a sermonette which he had just been "letting off" (as the poet Pollock phrased it), that he had not even once mentioned Christ in his discourse. The young divine answered that "He had not come in his way." come in your way, Sir!" exclaimed the veteran, warmly. "Why, you should have gone out of your way, dashed through hedges, and briers, and waters and every other obstacle, and found Him and brought Him in your way!'

FEELING AND PRINCIPLE.-Feeling is the most irregular element and least trustworthy test. It belongs to the passive part of our nature; principle, to the active part. Feeling depends on a sensitive surface; principle, on depths of moral purity. Feeling changes with temperament, with states of health and nerves, with a thousand fickle external influences; principle is independent of all physical or alterable circumstances, moves straight on, through all moods and climates, sails by fixed stars, and is the same secure and glorious thing through all the shifting seasons, though the mountains of prosperity be torn up and cast into the sea.

CHOICE SAYINGSs.-God compels us to learn many bitter lessons, that by knowing and suffering we may also know the eternal consolations.-Burleigh. A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser to-day than he was yesterday.-Pope. God hath made many sharp-cutting instruments and rough files for the polishing of His jewels; and those He especially loves, and intends to make the most resplendent, He hath oftenest His tools upon.-Leighton. I have a pledge from Christ-have His note of hand-which is my support, my refuge and haven; and though the world should rage, to this security I cling. Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." If Christ be with me, what shall I fear? If He is mine, all the powers of earth to me are nothing more than a spider's web.—Chrysostom.

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THE TEMPLE CHURCH.-This Church, which is now (by permission of the Benchers) open for inspection from ten to one and two to four, except Saturdays, has always been an object of great interest to visitors to this country, and more especially to Americans. The oldest part of this ancient structure was finished in 1185, when it was consecrated by Heraclius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, who had come to England to solicit the aid of King Henry II. on behalf of the Knights Templars in Palestine, who had some time before suffered an overwhelming defeat at the hands of Saladin. In 1845 the roof of the building was redecorated, and the whole church was restored at a cost, it is said, of £70,000. The Temple Church is the largest of the four remaining round churches in England built in imitation of the round church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, the others being at Cambridge, Northampton, and Maplestead, in Essex.

POVERTY AN EVIL.-" Sweet are the uses of adversity;" so the poet sings, and so we are apt to say when the blow falls upon someone else and not upon ourselves. Adversity is bitter and not sweet; it may have its use as a medicine, but no one hankers after a nauseous drug. No one chooses to be poor. The loudest disclaimer against riches is glad to get eight per cent. where he had six before. Abject poverty is a curse. You do not find the highest style of character in the lowest ranks of society. Hunger and cold are not conducive to mental or spiritual growth. They do not make one amiable, or unselfish, or magnanimous. Hunger knows no law but to appease itself. The soul has hard work to keep the currents warm when the body is aching with cold. It is a wearing thing to be all the while on the look-out for something to keep soul and body from parting company. We expect too much of the poor-too much patience, too much gratitude, too much good behaviour in general; more, perhaps, than we show when we are crossed in little things.

THE EMBER-DAYS.-The ember-days are periodical fasts originally instituted, it is said, by Pope Calixtus, in the third century, for the purpose of imploring the blessing of Heaven on the produce of the earth; and also preparing the clergy for ordination, in imitation of

the apostolic practice recorded in the 13th chapter of the Acts. It was not, however, till the Council of Placentia, 1095 A.D., that a uniformity as regards the season of observance was introduced. By a decree of this assemby, it was enacted that the Ember-days should be the first Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday following respectively the first Sunday in Lent, or Quadragesima Sunday, Whit-Sunday, Holyrood Day (September 14), and St. Lucy's Day (December 13). The term is said to be derived from the Saxon emb-ren or imb-ryne, denoting a course of circuit, these days recurring regularly, at stated periods, in the four quarters and seasons of the year. Others, with some plausibility, derive the epithet from the practice of sprinkling dust or embers on the head in token of humiliation; and also from the circumstance that at such seasons it was only customary to break the fast by partaking of cakes baked on the embers, or emberbread. In accordance with a canon of the English Church, the ordination of clergymen by the bishop generally takes place on the respective Sundays immediately following the ember days. weeks in which these days fall are termed the Ember-weeks, and in Latin the ember-days are denominated Jejunia quatuor temporum, or "the fasts of the four seasons."

The

THE JERUSALEM CHAMBER.-The Jerusalem Chamber, as it is called, in which the Revisers of the Authorized Version of the Bible have held their meetings, is a remarkable apartment in the enclosure of Westminster Abbey. It is about fifty feet long and half as wide, with a lofty ceiling. The fireplace is adorned with modern tiles on which one reads inscriptions, placed at the suggestion of the late Dean Stanley," Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love Thee." Above this fireplace extends a carved mantel of cedar, said to have been erected by Dean Williams when on one occasion he entertained the French Ambassadors. The walls are hung with very old tapestry, representing such Scripture scenes as the Adoration of the Wise Men, the Circumcision of our Lord, &c. Whence the Chamber got its name is unknown. Even Dean Stanley, when once asked on the subject, could give only the conjecture that some of the subjects referred to on the tapestry had suggested it. But the Chamber is one of the most interesting and noteworthy in London. It is well known to men of letters on account of the reference to it in the account of Henry IV.'s death as told by the historians and repeated in Shakespeare. The words of the poet are carved on the top of the cedar mantelpiece, and the only separable ornaments of the room are two small crowned busts at one end, the one representing Henry IV., the other Henry V. In the days of the Commonwealth the place was occupied by the assembly of divines who framed the papers which, in consequence of their local origin, are known as the Westminster Standards. The next company who used the Chamber as a permanent meeting place was the committee appointed for the revision of the Authorized Version, who for nearly fifteen years have held monthly sessions within its walls.

Meeting of the Western District Synod.

THE Synod of the Western Diocese met in Christ Church, Exeter, on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 14th and 15th. Present-The Bishop Primus, Christ Church, Ilfracombe; Rev. Albert Hockley, Trinity Church, Lynmouth; Rev. George Slater, Christ Church, Exeter; Rev. Alex. Roger, Trinity Church, Cathays, and Curate in charge of St. Paul's, Cardiff; Rev. R. H. Dignum, Christ Church, Roath; Mr. E. H. Dunn (licensed Evangelist), St. John's, Penarth.

The meetings commenced with Divine Service in Christ Church, on Tuesday evening, at which Bishop Price preached an able and practical sermon on "Thomas' unbelief" (John xx. 26-30).

On Wednesday, the Synod met at 10 a.m., for the transaction of business of the diocese. The Rev. A. Roger was elected Secretary in succession to the Rev. J. F. Allan. Considerable time was spent in discussing matters connected with Trinity Church, Leominster, and St. Paul's, Cardiff. It was at length resolved to confirm the appointment of Rev. A. Roger as clergyman in charge, who undertook to see the pulpit supplied for a short time, until a suitable minister is appointed. After an excellent dinner, kindly provided by Rev. G. and Mrs. Slater, the Synod again met and received into the ministry of the Free Church of England, the Rev. R. H. Dignum, and recommended him to Convocation on his own wish for Episcopal ordination.

Mr. E. H. Dunn was next examined, and having passed to the satisfaction of the Synod, recommended for examination for deacon's orders.

The Synod rejoiced to find that the good work was progressing, and that new Churches had been started in Roath and Penarth.

In the evening a social tea meeting was held in connection with Christ Church, and addresses delivered by the Bishop, and Revs. A. Hockley, A. Roger, and R. H. Dignum.

The next Synod was fixed for September, and to meet in Ilfracombe.

Obituary.

ONE of the members, for many years, of the Avebury Free Church of England, Miss M. Pictor, has recently died, leaving a comfortable testimony. The Rev. Edward W. Slater, pastor of the Church, says: The Lord, in His all-wise providence, led her for some years in a pathway of suffering; which, as time advanced, increased in intensity, until it became an agony, and ended her life on earth on Sunday, the 8th March. When speaking of her death, she used "going home," and similar words to describe it; and her mind was preserved in the "peace of God" until the last.

Notices.

THE following meetings will (D.v.) be held at 3, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, S.W., on Tuesday, March 12th inst.viz., London District Synod at 11 o'clock; Council at 12 o'clock; Examination Committee for the London District at 2 o'clock. Members of the District Examination Committee and candidates for examination respectively are requested to accept this invitation.

RECEIVED.—Irish Temperance League Journal, Belfast, edited by the Rev. Archie Mackinlay. Also, the Anglo-New-Zealander and Australian Times, Friday, October 10, 1884. Also, the Reformed Church Record, April, 1885. Also, the Sunday Closing Reporter, March 12, 1885. Also, "What is Wanted!" a paper 4 pp. 4to; to be had from the Rev. H. Jones, Weston, near Bath, in which, under date July, 1872, it is urged that "revival" is that which is wanted, and, if so then, is it not much more so now? This paper is said to have been sent to the churches by a "Scotch author.' It is well worthy of a reading. The definition of revival is not a series of exciting meetings outside the Churches, but "a fresh flow of spiritual life in our Churches." Also, Parallax, a Geographical, Philosophical, and Educational Review, Nautical Guide, and General Student's Manual (Lile and Fawcett, Ludgate Circus, London, E.C.) We have also been favoured by the Rev. G. H. Jones with copies of the Christian World, dated respectively April 9 and 16th, containing a letter from Bishop Price respecting the relation in which the Free Church of England stands to the Countess of Huntingdon's connexion, and other letters and articles concerning that body.

ERRATA.-In No. 215, "A word to the wise on the subject of prayer "-p. 235 (Nov. 1884)—it was omitted to mark the quotation at head, and that at foot, with inverted commas.

Contributions, &c., to be sent to the Treasurer, FREDERICK WM. WILLCOCKS, Esq.,

Cumberland Villa, 132, Queen's Road, Finsbury I ark, N.