GREAT authority on Church matters has said lately :-'At all sacrifices provide sound Church literature for the people.'

Yes, this is indeed reliable advice, for there is no better work in which any Christian can engage, no work more certain to be richly rewarded both here and hereafter, than that of feeding the starving minds and souls of our countrymen with good, wholesome, nourishing food.

Such efforts have been blessed by GoD at all times; but at the present day, when unprincipled men, for their own miserable ends, are diligent in administering poison, which, alas! is only too greedily swallowed by many of our honest, ignorant working class, what a call there is for every believer to sacrifice— yes, sacrifice-time, talents, and money in providing an antidote.

Our recent attempt to provide for this want-humble though it may seem from one point of view-has been crowned with a success which may well encourage us to persevere in this path of usefulness.

It is not only that the circulation of The Banner of Faith is now over 50,000 per month-though this in itself is a hopeful sign, since it proves that the Magazine is read-and that is the first point to be secured after a book has been written and printed; but over and over again have we been assured-and often by those whose opinion we love and revere-that this monthly serial is already beginning to do a real work for GOD, and is advancing the cause which is so dear to us.

We give a few extracts from some of the hundreds of letters we have received on the subject:

'I am glad to tell you that the people in my district all take The Banner of Faith. One woman said to me, "It would be worth

the penny, ma'am, if there were nothing else in it but the story of 'The Little Stowaway;' and another woman informed me

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My husband do like that new Magazine; he says there is some good to be got from a book like that."

'I shall do my very utmost to increase its circulation, for I am sure its Church teaching is most valuable and much needed.'

'The Banner of Faith is very good. Illustrations are of no consequence-the trashiest monthlies have them in abundance.'

'It seems to me one of the best, most attractive, and useful Magazines I have seen.'

'We are much delighted with The Banner of Faith, and think it is most thoroughly suited for its purpose.'

A navvy Missioner writes :

You will be glad to hear that the new Magazine "takes" extremely well with the navvies. I sell the copies amongst them as fast as I can procure them.'

This last contains intelligence which is peculiarly pleasing to us, as we feel sure that such Church literature, as will be really liked and read by labouring men, is one of the greatest wants of the day.

'We find our poor people appreciate it highly, and were eager for the February number.'

'My people like the Magazine very much, and I think it is the best I have ever seen. If carried on as it has commenced it will do much good.'

'I have localised The Banner of Faith, and all my copies have been bought up greedily.'

'It seems to me that The Banner of Faith will exactly supply a want in hundreds of parishes if its first promise is fulfilled.'

'It is one of the best and cheapest magazines I ever met with.'

'I find The Banner of Faith generally appreciated.'

'My poor people like it so much, and say it is written " so as they can understand.” 'I am glad to find that The Banner of Faith is liked and read by men.'

quence of taking The Banner of Faith as our parish magazine, our circulation has increased by one hundred.'

Any of our readers who may take in The Banner will, we are sure, agree with the comments made upon its cheapness. It is true the low price at which it is offered is at present somewhat at our expense, for our printing accounts show a balance on the wrong side; still we have some hope that before the end of the year we may succeed in making two ends meet, and this is all we care to do.

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Cheap, however, as the Magazine undoubtedly is, there are yet some who cannot afford to buy it at its published price. We refer to such persons as foreign missionaries and others who labour among the lowest of our home population-who devote themselves to visiting London lodging-houses, canal-boats, brickfields, or emigrant ships. From such Mission-workers we have received appeals to allow them to purchase The Banner at a reduced rate, to sell again at perhaps half its proper price; but, since we are already out of pocket, it is clear that we cannot afford this.

But one thing we can do, and that is, appeal to the readers of Our Work to subscribe 2s. 6d., 5s., 10s., or 1. towards a 'free Banner Fund,' from which we can make grants of the Magazine to those who are willing to spend time and labour in distributing it, but are really unable to pay the penny charge put upon it.

The contributions towards this fund will be very gladly received either by the Manager, Office of The Banner of Faith, 6 Paternoster Row, E.C.; or by the Secretary of the C. E.A., 27 Kilburn Park Road, London, N.W.

We very much hope that many such gifts will be forthcoming, and that they will be repeated, if possible, annually. We shall then know what to depend upon, when we are urged in pressing terms to make grants of the Banner either free or at half-price.

What Others are Doing.

Under this heading we desire to introduce our readers to a variety of charitable and religious work which is being carried on for GOD in different parts of the world. It will be distinctly a record of work —charitable, philanthropic, and missionary-and we wish it to be understood that we by no means commit ourselves to any approval of the religious views and opinions held by those who do such work. In this particular, great scope will be allowed, and we trust that our readers will understand and appreciate our motives. Our desire and hope is, that the papers introduced into this section of the Magazine may prove interesting and instructive, both to those who are engaged in charitable and missionary enterprise themselves, and also to others, who, though unable to share actively in such undertakings, yet feel a keen interest in all that is being done with a view to the glory of GOD and the good of man.

(To the Editor of OUR WORK.)

S. ANDREW'S, Plaistow, E. IR,-Having received from you permission to give an account of the work I have been allowed to do in this place, I gladly respond to your kindness.

On leaving S. Bartholomew's, Bethnal Green, in 1862, where I began my ministerial life in 1857, I looked about to find a new field of labour.

By chance, as some would say, I applied to the vicar of S. Mary, Haggerstone, as I had heard that he was in want of help. In this I was mistaken, but a few days afterwards, through him, I received a letter from one who was then a stranger to me, though now a well-known Church benefactor. As this letter directed, I called on the vicar of S. Mary's, Plaistow, who informed me that a Mission church was being built in his parish at the sole expense of a gentleman, on condition that there should be 'free and unappropriated sittings, frequent Communions, a weekly offertory, and a surpliced choir.'

On August 6, 1862, the Mission church was opened by the present Archbishop of Canterbury, then Bishop of London, in whose diocese we were at that time.

The building was always used four times on Sunday and twice on ordinary days for service, as well as for Sunday and day schools.

The testimony of the vicar of S. Mary's as to the Mission was expressed in these words in 1874:The indirect influence of S. Andrew's has already been by no means small, for we have been enabled in the mother church, without offence, to remove pews and establish sittings perfectly free; we have introduced choral service, and with it true congregational worship; also daily service and very frequent celebrations. And thus S. Mary's and S. Andrew's, although separated now by law, are united in bonds of love.'

Not only is this true, but it may, without offence, be said that S. Andrew's has been the pioneer of the above principles of work, and has paved the way to their adoption in the other churches of Plaistow.

In 1866 we began begging for 200,000 shillings to build church, parsonage, and schools, and so put the work on a permanent basis by forming the Mission district into an ecclesiastical parish with parochial machinery adapted to the increasing wants of the neighbourhood.

At this time it was considered altogether an extravagant idea to imagine that 10,000%. could be raised for these purposes; however, in 1867 the foundation-stone was laid, and the building consecrated in 1870, at the cost of the amount originally suggested.

There are two specially interesting circumstances connected with the collection of the funds for the church. One, that soon after we commenced begging, a gentleman wrote to me and offered 1,000l., with interest thereon until it was required for the Church Fund. Another, that when the church was ready for consecration, and it was found that a further sum of 1,600l. was wanting to comply with the Bishop's requirements, a friend interested in the work offered to advance for an unlimited period all that was necessary, without interest and without acknowledgment of the loan. The offer was thankfully accepted, the church consecrated, and the loan repaid through the indefatigable exertions of some ladies who formed themselves into a committee, and by degrees begged the money from friends and others.

So the work of the Church began in good earnest in S. Andrew's parish, though I was the only clergyman, and had, quite alone, to carry on all the Sunday and week-day services.

Hitherto, my stipend, ranging from 130l. to 200%., had been paid by one or more societies,

but in 1874 a blow came, in a notice that at the end of that year the whole of my stipend would cease to be paid by the Bishop of Rochester's Fund, on account of the district having been formed into an ecclesiastical parish, and my having risen from being a Mission curate to the enviable position of an incumbent without endowment, without pew-rents, and without the salary of a stipendiary curate. I had worked twelve years, and this was my prospect!

Under these circumstances I was driven to endeavour to raise some endowment, and for this purpose made an appeal in The Home Mission Field,' which brought in, I may say, nearly 1,000l., and my Ladies' Committee successfully begged with all their might. In answer to the appeal in 'The Home Mission Field,' one lady sent 500., and a gentleman ten 10%. In this way, and by the assistance of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and Queen Anne's Bounty, we have gradually obtained an endowment of 210l. per annum, after twenty years' unremitting labour and anxiety.

notes.

Our next work was to build schools, in which we succeeded so far as the completion of boys' and girls' schools, with residences for head teachers. They were opened in 1873. The infants' schoolroom was not attempted, because the donor of the land on which Church schools and vicarage are built promised to pay for it. Unfortunately for the work, he died, and we are now compelled to raise the amount by subscription.

I am sure that supporters of religious education who are members of the Church will agree that every parish in the kingdom should, if possible, have a complete block of Church of England schools, and therefore I may confidently hope to be able to make due provision for this important parish.

The clergy teach in our schools daily, and the children are brought to a children's service in the Church one morning in the week.

We reckon that the schools will be quite full this spring, as they have grown considerably in the past twelve months, and the pence and Government Grant will supply a revenue considerably more than at any former period. But all will be thrown back if I am unable to start the building this year.

The Bishop of the diocese is one of the trustees, and the deeds provide that the children shall have religious instruction in accordance with the Prayer-book. I think this is

sufficient guarantee against the chances of the schools being handed over to a Board through the faint-heartedness of any future incumbent.

It is also arranged that the new schoolroom shall be so designed as to form a handsome Parochial Hall for parish gatherings, concerts, lectures, &c.-a very necessary and useful institution in these days.

Two thousand five hundred pounds will be required to carry out the plan so that the building may harmonise with those already on the site, and thereby complete the whole design.

Six hundred pounds is promised, but much more help must come very quickly if we are to accomplish our purpose; and I do earnestly pray that some who read this will rejoice my anxious heart by responding according to their ability.

Of the twenty years that I shall, if spared, complete on July 1, I have had to work ten alone, five with one, and five with two colleagues. Within the last few days I have been joined by another, in the capacity of Mission curate, to work a district connected with my old Mission church. How long we shall remain in this satisfactory condition of a staff of four clergy it is impossible to say, as monetary supplies at the East End are very uncertain. The population has grown from less than 2,000 in 1862 to 3,272 in 1871, and 9,069 in 1881. At the next census it is not unlikely that it will have reached 20,000!

The character and size of the parish are such that it includes a cemetery, two small-pox hospitals, a police-station, and two board schools.

It is not for me to magnify the success of the spiritual work, but I may say that it is acknowledged not only to have done much for the parish of S. Andrew, but also to have promoted a higher tone of Church feeling through a wide area in the parish of West Ham, of which Plaistow is a hamlet.

Instead of 10,000l. originally contemplated to provide church, schools, and parsonage, we have raised nearer 20,000l., and 60,000l. for endowment. A few hundreds at most has come from the district, the remainder from the contributions of societies, and persons blessed with wealth, and ready to make their riches a blessing to themselves and to others by giving it

away.

'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' Do, then, please send the assistance needed for this parish, which is poor, indeed, in one

sense, though most rich and blessed in having one of the most beautiful churches this century has seen built; with a good vicarage and schools (as far as they go). It will remain for you to have the privilege of helping in the completion of the latter. Help us, then, with this school, and we shall be highly favoured, and able to continue the work GOD has committed to us on true Christian principles.

I need not mention our numerous opportunities for worship beyond saying that next Ascension Day will complete the eighth year of the Eucharist being offered daily in the church at 7 A.M.

With sincere thanks for your kindness, I am yours sincerely in our BLESSED Lord, GEORGE GODSELL.

WORK IN THE NORTH-COUNTRY.

MONGST all the inventions of modern times there is none, perhaps, which has been of greater benefit to us than railroads ; but whilst the trains are hurried through the length and breadth

of the land, how few travellers stop to think at what cost this modern luxury (if I may call it so) has been bought.

It would take up too much space in this short article to trace all the changes to which iron is subjected, from the time the stone in which it is found is taken from the Cleveland hills and passed through those huge furnaces-which have turned the country round Middlesbrough from a fair, smiling plain into somewhat of a black country-until it is fashioned into the 'iron way,' as our foreign neighbours term it.

Suffice it to say that the working of the molten metal, and the massive machinery used, make it a service of no little danger.

I suppose no one who has not been an eyewitness of the suffering caused by accidents at the ironworks can fully realise what those words convey, 'There has been a frightful boiler explosion.' It means homes made desolate; husbands, fathers, brothers, either hurled into eternity or maimed for life. Smaller accidents are of daily occurrence, such as burns caused by molten iron, &c.

The first ironworks were built in Middlesbrough in the year 1841, and for seventeen years there was no infirmary nearer than that

at Newcastle, where the poor sufferers from these sad accidents could be received. Then GOD put it into the heart of a lady (since gone to her rest) to fit up two cottages as a hospital.

Thus, in August 1858, the first 'Cottage Hospital' in England was set on foot.

From the beginning it was a success, and here the foundress worked among the sick and suffering with loving self-sacrifice, until the summer of 1861, when, the building becoming too small for the growing population, she had the pleasure of moving her patients into a larger Cottage Hospital at North Ormesby, capable of holding thirty beds. This still continues, under the charge of the Sisters of the Holy Rood.

Will my readers come with me in spirit and pay a little visit to the hospital as it now is? First, there is the garden. It is a pretty sight on a summer's evening to watch the patients sitting out and chatting in the hospital garden with their friends the Sisters, and with former patients, who often come up after working hours to spend the evening in their dearly loved home-for a home it has been in very deed to many. The Sisters will point out to you with great pleasure this or that plant or flower that John' or 'William' gave them in grateful memory of benefits received at the hospital, and the summer-house which the working-men put up themselves as a surprise. They are a wonderful help, these working-men. They have their own hospital committee, and manifold are the gifts in money and kind that their loving hearts have prompted them to offer to the institution.

But we must not linger too long outside. If you will come in with me through the glass door, and turn to the left, we shall find ourselves in the dining-room.

It is mid-day, and there stands Sister carving the good beef or mutton which go to renew the muscle and sinew that have to fashion those iron trams on which the railway carriage in which you sit runs so smoothly.

It is wonderful how much the patients can eat; but, alas! the food has to be paid for, and where is the money to come from? The housekeeping Sister says, 'We must make the helpings smaller, for everything is very dear in Middlesbrough.' This would be one way, certainly, of reducing expenses, but not a very satisfactory way; for how would that man with the large powerful frame, on our right, whose clothes hang so loosely on him, and who has a

wife and six children dependent on him, like to have the slices of meat cut thinner?

The next room is the Women's Ward, with a bay-window looking on to the garden. Next to that is the nursery; and I think I hear you exclaim, on entering, 'What a bright, cheerful room, quite as pretty as our own children's nursery at home!' There are bright-coloured prints and texts on the wall, and cribs with their scarlet blankets; and the little lambs of the fold are very happy there.

On the other side of the passage is the Chapel, where morning and evening prayers are said, and which all the patients attend who are able. Beyond this again is the Mortuary Chapel, just outside the Hospital, in which the bodies of those who have died are laid until they are buried.

We will now go upstairs. There are no long wards in which the poor sufferers are only known by their numbers; three or, at most, four beds occupy each room, bright and cheery with its red quilts, and texts, and pictures, and in summer-time with a vase of flowers, commonly the gift of some patient's friend.

One of the leading firms in MiddlesbroughMessrs. Cochrane—have lately built a memorial wing to the Hospital. It was a noble gift and greatly needed, but has added much to the expense.

During the last six years there has been great depression in the iron trade. Subscriptions have, in consequence, fallen off, and the expenditure has been in excess of the receipts.

The question now is, 'What is to be done?' Must we close those wards? Can we send a message to that poor sufferer who is lying on the stretcher outside, that there is no room’— that he must go back to his little cottage, where the poor wife with all her love does not know how to dress those frightful burns, and cannot get him the nourishing food necessary to recruit his strength?

No! we cannot, must not, say this. We cannot, we must not, forget the Saviour's words: 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.'

And now I have a word to say to the fathers and mothers who read this-ay, and to the little children in their happy homes.

Besides the entire care of the Cottage Hospital, of which I have been speaking, and the nursing in two other hospitals at a distance, the