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and die, according to our LORD's words, 'Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, ye have no life in you.'

Immediately after the service, the bishop, attended by the vicar, proceeded to

Street, to confirm the poor blind paralytic, mentioned in our July number. A small congregation had already assembled in the invalid's little room. Just a few words the bishop spoke kindly and to the purpose. He told how we could serve GOD equally as well by passive endurance as by active service; that for both alike the help of the Holy Ghost was needed, and that the tender Paraclete would as surely come to comfort and sustain His suffering child as He would go forth to strengthen and support those whose lot it was to fight the good fight of faith actively in the world.

Very clearly and very heartily was the 'I do' spoken, and then apostolic hands were laid upon the bowed head, and poor I-, radiant with happiness, became possessor of the gift he had coveted so earnestly, and for which he had made such diligent preparation.

The annual parochial excursion took place on Tuesday, August 1. Twenty-two vans were chartered, and, between 9 and 10 A.M., a noisy, happy party started for High Beech, in Epping Forest. From all accounts the day seems to have been fraught with great enjoyment for all. One little girl expressed herself thus strongly :-'Oh! I did like it! We didn't get 'ome till eleven o'clock. I wasn't a bit tired: I wanted to go again.' Fathers and mothers seem to have been no less pleased, many declaring it was the best excursion they ever remembered. Collections had been made previously towards some fireworks, and as the pleasure-seekers returned home some were let off from every van, making for a time the streets through which they were passing a blaze of light. A day in the country is indeed an inestimable boon to the hard-working poor. We only wish it could be procured for them a little. oftener.

A Mission on the Surrey Side of the River.

R

ENT and furniture for two new Mission Houses at Poplar and Rotherhithe!' a reader may exclaim, as he glances down our list of wants for November. 'Why this fresh drain upon the resources of the Society-these new centres of Missionary enterprise-when it is already such hard work for the committee and managers to provide money and means to carry out the present work?'

Pause a little, kind and prudent objector, until the facts of the case have been laid before you.

The claims of the large and poor parish of All Hallows, Poplar, have already been pleaded in these columns; and as for Rotherhithe-this is the plain history of our call in that direction :

In July last came a most pressing letter from the vicar of one of the great overgrown parishes of Deptford and Rotherhithe :

'I have a district of some fourteen thousand souls,' wrote our correspondent, among whom I work single-handed, with the exception of one curate and one deaconess. The latter, I should say, is about to leave. There are no funds and no parish school, not even a room, however humble, which could be used for mission purposes, for classes, meetings, &c. When Deaconess J— leaves, the poor will be more desolate than ever, for the population is entirely of the workingclass, and there are no ladies to teach, visit, &c. Can you possibly spare even one Sister to come and live among our people, &c. ?'

We went to see for ourselves, and found it was even so a poor living, no funds, no friends, no wealthy inhabitants, no rallyingpoint in the shape even of the smallest mission-room.

A hopeless place, do you say? Oh no, far from that; the chief elements of hopelessness were wanting. For there were earnest,

hardworking clergy, and a population-poor certainly, but composed of decent, industrious folk, well affected towards the Church, and grateful for the little that could be done to raise and succour them.

The Deaconess, too, had laboured faithfully through long months; and, singlehanded, had set on foot many useful agencies.

Perhaps it was this last consideration which, as much as anything else, led us to resolve upon doing what we could in the new sphere offered us. It seemed sad that so much good work should drop to the ground.

We, therefore, took a small lodging, and placed a Sister in the midst of this great district. She was to gather up the threads of Deaconess J's work, receiving some help from our Mission-house at the London Docks on the opposite side of the river.

This was to be a three months' experiment; after which the matter was to be reconsidered. And now that the appointed time has passed, it really seems impossible to withdraw.

The people are so affectionate and grateful for everything done for them; there are so many sick to be visited, so many untaught children to be Christianised, so many desolate to be comforted, so much work of every kind crying for helpers! The parish is close to the Surrey Commercial Dock, the largest of our London basins, and full of labouring men; it includes, likewise, a great sulphur factory employing 300 men, and another industry for women, while one corner of the district is crowded with poor, as squalid and miserable as those of Shoreditch and Bethnal Green.

What can we do among so many?

Happily the few words we inserted in last Our Work have borne fruit, and several ladies have volunteered to work on the Surrey side of the Thames, if the Sisters of the Church will lead the way.'

Now, it happens that an enterprising builder has just put up a very convenient house next door to the Church. It has several large rooms which would be available for classes, &c., and in many ways it would

be a 'highly desirable residence' for the Mission workers of the district. The rent is 40/. per annum, taxes 77.; and then there is the furniture, which, however common and scanty, will yet cost something.

It is with these expenses that we ask help. Nor can the request be fairly regarded as unreasonable. The society engages to give what no money can buy-i.e. the active, personal service of the Sisters and their friends, and the charitable are asked to do their part, and to pay for the house that is to shelter these workers and the fittings that are to make that house habitable.

Fourteen thousand souls; oh, what does that mean? A band of women wholly devoted to their welfare; what does that mean?

We leave our readers to answer these questions for themselves, and conclude by saying how gladly offers of help will be welcomed either by the Secretary of the Church Extension Association, 27 Kilburn Park Road, N.W., or by The Sister in Charge, care of Rev. Christopher Tweddle, All Saints' Vicarage, Rotherhithe, S. E.

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perchance, the attractions, the temptations towards idolatry which his descendants would experience. His heart yearned even in death for the country of his fathers, and by the removal of his corpse thither he intended to bind his sons more strongly to their former home. Egypt was but a temporary home, not an eternal resting-place. As his soul was to be gathered unto his people,' so his body was to rest amongst their bodies.

APPLICATION.

Am I constant in my affections? Do I remember my father's home and long to be buried with my kindred? I may have a holy love and preference for my home, my parish, my country. It is a holy feeling when secondary to the love of GOD, and one which may serve as a ladder to many divine affections. It is not to be despised, and may serve as a safeguard against that affectation of a philosophical disregard for Christian burial, which breaks down holy reverence for the body as the temple of the Holy Ghost, and weakens belief in the Resurrection. And as, wherever I may be called, my heart should turn with love to its own land, so wherever I may dwell, my spirit should find. its true home in the Land of Blessing where my Father dwells; and no luxury, no honours, no pleasures should chain me to the low flat country of ease and comfort.

AFFECTION.

O GOD of my life! I thank Thee that Thou hast given me a Land of Promise to which mine eyes may turn in death as well as in life; grant that my heart may be ever in the Home with Thee, and my longing ever be for my kindred-those who have departed this life in Thy faith and fear.

RESOLUTION.

To pass through the world without getting absorbed in it, and particularly to avoid any occupation which is too engrossing.

THOUGHT.

'Here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.'

Unexpected Blessings.

First Prelude. Picture Jacob in his old age receiving Joseph and his grandsons. Second Prelude. Pray for gratitude. CONSIDERATION.

Jacob settled in Egypt, prosperous, all his sons in favour of the King, his son Joseph the chief ruler, the Prime Minister; his grandsons before him, his descendants numerous and likely to carry his name to the end of the world. He looks back to the days of his misery, when he was weeping for Joseph and longing to see his face, and he cries as he embraces his grandchildren, ‘I had not thought to see thy face; and lo! GOD hath showed me also thy seed.' Happy the soul that acknowledges God's bounty; happy the soul that is aware of it, for blessings are heaped upon some and they will not thank GOD for them, and blessings are heaped upon others and they seem to be not even aware of them. How often, too, a soul mourns because it is denied the blessing it craves, and in the end more is given than it could ever have hoped for !

APPLICATION.

Have I not, like Jacob, shed bitter tears because I could not have the blessing my soul longed for? And have I not, like him, received tenfold in the end? The very cir cumstances I have most deplored have been the causes of my greatest happiness in later life. And if this has been the case in earthly things, how much more in spiritual things! Many a time have I mourned because I could not see the face of JESUs, and at last I have attained to a truer vision of Him, and not only have my own spiritual eyes been blest by the sight of Him, but I have seen His seed, I have rejoiced in the great company of the faithful, I have been brought not only to Him, but to the society of those who draw their being from Him, the Holy Catholic Church. Instead of desponding, I must expect blessings; instead of mourning after Joseph, I will look forward to seeing not only Himself but His devoted children.

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Israel embraced his young grandsons. Joseph brought them out from between their grandfather's knees, and placed them in a reverent position to receive his blessing. He then prostrated himself, bowing himself with his face to the earth. The great Ruler of Egypt acknowledges what is due to his father; the son of the head of the tribe honours the priesthood of Jacob. That father, that priest of the family, was old and blind; he could not see the marks of honour given to him, but nevertheless Joseph rendered them carefully and willingly. In these days the blessing of the head of a family has no special patriarchal dignity, no special priestly significance; but it is a real blessing coming from GOD, and showing forth His fatherhood, and should be valued as a great gift and one worthy of deep gratitude.

APPLICATION.

How have I behaved to my parents? Have I sought the approbation of the world more than theirs? Have I undervalued their blessing? Have I been impatient with their infirmities? I have much to accuse myself of with regard not only to my parents but

also to others who are aged and venerable ; not only relations, but also those who are set over me-authorities, spiritual and temporal. As Joseph gave reverence to his father, though the latter was blind and could not see him, so let me give all due honour to those who ought to have it, even though they be unaware of it-blind it may be, and even careless. I dishonour myself if I fail in this, much more than I can possibly dishonour them; but most of all I dishonour GOD, whose Fatherhood I ought to honour in all venerable and aged persons.

AFFECTION.

O blessed Saviour! Who hast said 'I honour My Father,' teach us so to honour our parents and elders that we may some day be meet to honour our GOD before His throne for ever.

RESOLUTION.

Always to behave respectfully to my elders.

THOUGHT.

'Honour thy father and thy mother.'

Ephraim and Manasseh.

First Prelude.-Picture: Israel with his hands on the heads of Ephraim and Manasseh.

Second Prelude.-Pray for acceptance in the sight of GOD.

CONSIDERATION.

Isaac unwillingly and perforce blessed his younger son. Jacob willingly and of set purpose blessed his younger grandson. Both were fulfilling the will of God. And the blessing was fulfilled. Ephraim became the ancestor of the royal tribe of the kingdom of Israel. Ephraim possessed the field of Shechem; Ephraim became the forefather of Joshua, Ephraim became the home of JESUS CHRIST during his dwelling in Nazareth. And why was Ephraim the younger thus distinguished above Manasseh the elder? Perhaps GOD saw in him the signs of a more devout and religious disposition; perhaps it was to show that God is

not bound by the customs of mankind; perhaps it was to foreshadow the calling of the Gentiles instead of the Jews. GOD'S ways are not our ways, and we can but bless His holy will and confide in His infinite wisdom.

APPLICATION.

Am I not often surprised at God's choice? I honour Manasseh, but He honours Ephraim. I look at persons through the eyes of the world, I see them as society sees them, I hear their characters discussed by the set among whom I dwell, and I am but too much inclined to judge them with the judgment of the world. But the eldest in birth may be the youngest in faith, the greatest in station may be the smallest in good works, the highest in the world's wisdom may be the lowest in the things of GOD. And all these virtues may be hidden and known only to GOD, for man cannot see into the heart of man. Let me never judge who is most worthy, for this is only known to the Maker of all.

AFFECTION.

O GOD and Father of us all! Thou hast in Thy great mercy called us to love and serve Thee; may I never contend for the highest place, but try to do my best and leave all else to Thee, knowing that whether I, and those I love, have the right or the left hand on our heads, we have infinitely more than we deserve.

RESOLUTION.

To accept GOD's decrees with a thankful heart.

THOUGHT.

'The last shall be first, and the first last.'

Monthly Botes.

DONKEY-our next want is a donkey! We have a capital little cart at Broadstairs, but no patient, plodding animal to draw it. Yet, with our long procession of toddling babies, our crippled boys and girls limping slowly along on crutches, our feeble invalid children unable to keep pace with their more robust companions—a modest equipage of some sort is a real necessity. Even the getting our fragile charges and their bundles to and from the station is sometimes a matter of difficulty. It is true that a good-hearted carrier, who goes by the name of Jack, will at times hoist a one-legged boy or girl on to the top of his luggage cart, and deposit the child at the Convalescent Home door, along with various. hampers and boxes. But this is not a course to be altogether recommended.

Now, the possession of the above-named humble beast of burden would quite obviate the difficulty. Neddy need be no expense either, for he could pick up a decent living on the acres which surround the new Home, and a rough shed near the workmen's hut would serve him for a shelter.

Think, too, of the endless amount of pleasure that would be derived from such a useful pet! The delight of rides upon 'our own donkey,' the fun of feeding him, and of collecting tit-bits, in the shape of carrots or thistles, for his benefit.

We might say more, but we are persuaded that sufficient has been advanced to show that any one, having a nice, quiet, well-conducted donkey to dispose of, could not do better than make a present of him to the crippled and ailing little patients of the Convalescent Home.

Address, Miss ELEANOR PAGET,
5 Wrotham Crescent,
Broadstairs.

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