friends better than to appropriate the largest ward in the whole house!

Certainly it would be a grand thing for the boys and girls of England to have been instrumental in building so large a portion of this beautiful building. It would be a noble monument of their industry, self-denial, and sympathy with the sufferings of little ones less cared for than themselves. All honour, then, and success to the attempt! We would not damp your ardour, dear young friends, nor dash your hopes to the ground, when we say that the largest ward will cost 13,000l. A large sum truly! Still you have many months before you, and we earnestly wish you every success. Try your very best to fill your own cards, and then persuade your young friends to take some too, and ask them in their turn to gain new helpers.

We have been asked whether the contributions are only to be gathered from children. No; this is not necessary, so long as children are the collectors with whom rests the labour and the responsibility of gathering the funds. To them we commit the work, and they are free to use all means open to them for raising the required sum. May they prosper in their pleadings, and win all hearts to answer their appeal!

Only six weeks to Christmas! What a vista do these words open out to us! It may be defined best, perhaps, by one word -expectations. Expectations on our part of a harvest of seasonable gifts?-yes! anxious expectations of a supply equal to the demand.

And expectations eager, confident, and of long standing on the part of those to whom we hope to dispense all that we receive. The children of the Church Extension Schools have now for many years learnt to hail this season as the brightest in the year. Not a child is forgotten in the grand distribution, which is an unvarying feature of our festive. entertainments. Besides the Christmas trees and other amusements, there are the warm petticoats and frocks, the muffatees and scarves, which will keep them warm through the cold winter months. Most grateful shall

we be for any number of 'woollies.' (May we add, by the way, a request that all pairs may be just stitched together, for many a nice stocking and cuff is found at the needed moment lacking its fellow, for want of this precaution.)

Our children are always delighted with a gay warm scarf (the brighter the better !) or a pair of brilliant scarlet, purple, yellow, or green muffatees. Then the old folks are ambitious to possess a good-sized thick crossover to keep the warmth on their poor, chilly, rheumatic shoulders. Petticoatsflannel or linsey-never come amiss to old and young; and stockings-soft, elastic, and durable, are a treasure to last till Christmas comes again.

And, then, not only is there the outer, but the inner man, to be thought of. For this end, we need tea, sugar, cakes, bonbons, crackers, plum puddings-in fact, everything that will help us to make good cheer. Perhaps, in ordering their own Christmas stores, our readers will kindly think of the 170 orphans, the 1,200 school children, the old men and women of Shoreditch and the East-end, the labourers of the London Docks, who will all look to the C.E.A. to help them to enjoy a happy Christmas-tide.

Miss Clara Lance, Buckland S. Mary, Chard, begs to announce that she has a very extensive and pretty selection of Christmas cards, and will be very glad to send packets to any one who will undertake to sell them. She hopes that intending purchasers of Christmas cards will largely patronise her stock, for the benefit of the Orphanage of Mercy, to which object all her profits are devoted.

The sale of work in aid of the new Wing at the Orphanage of Mercy will take place on December 11, 12, 13, at the Marlborough Rooms, Regent Street.

We are, therefore, anxiously looking out for the contributions which this month may bring in, under the various departments of

fancy work, useful clothing, pictures, illuminations, china, and all manner of pretty articles, tempting to willing customers. May we then reiterate our request that all our friends will both send in their parcels of goods as early in the month as possible, and also try to induce their acquaintances to make purchases, and come prepared to make a large outlay on Christmas gifts? This will ensure an important and greatly-needed addition to our Building Fund, which at the present time is calling loudly for support.

Ladies willing to undertake stalls will they kindly apply to Mrs. Hobson, Woodleigh Cove, Farnboro', Hants.

Our readers will have observed that in the last number of Our Work allusion was made to our great need of a Chapel. This allusion was no sooner read by one, who is herself a frequent worshipper in our present temporary room when residing at the Orphanage, than she made the generous offer of 50l., to be given as soon as the Chapel could be commenced. Speaking from her own observation, she says-' Your Chapel is indeed far too small for your numbers as they at present stand; and with your community ever on the increase, and a background of another 'hundred orphans, I consider that the Chapel is one of your most pressing needs. I most earnestly hope that many will be found willing to follow my example, and that the Chapel may be commenced before very long.'

It has also happened that a member of the Community has lately had some very valuable diamonds left her, which are to be sold for the benefit of the Chapel Fund.

*

Encouraged by these two offerings, are we wrong in thinking that the time may be near for entering upon this the crowning portion of our Home and Orphanage ?

The idea of the 'Mary Ward' finds acceptance with many, we are glad to say. Yet one objection has been raised, which has been so well stated by one correspondent that we cannot do better than quote her words 'I have this morning received Our

Work, and read the paragraph about the "Mary Ward." Will you excuse my saying that if the necessary contribution is fixed at 57., I am afraid it will prevent very many Maries subscribing to it. In our own very narrow circle of friends, I can count six Maries who could each give a few shillings towards it; but we could not possibly give even 1, nor could we collect for it, and I am sure there are hundreds in the same case.

'I see there is no limit to the offerings for the Holy Innocents' Ward, which will allow many to give a little who cannot do more. And why may it not be the same for the Mary Ward?'

This objection has been raised several times, and therefore we think that the kind friend, who first proposed to give 5. if others would follow her example, will not be averse to modify her scheme so as to include all offerings, however small, which any bearing this name may desire to contribute towards the ward in question.

Acting on this assumption we did not hesitate to accept one pound from a 'Mary' who called to see the Orphanage, and who much wished her gift to be devoted to this ward. And we invite all our 'Mary' readers to combine in sending whatever contribution may best suit their means and their inclination, trusting that the number of contributors may rival that of the collectors for The Children's Gift. All contributions and communications should be addressed to the Secretaries of the Society

Miss HELEN WETHERELL

or

Miss A. M. THOMAS,

27 Kilburn Park Road, London, N.W.

We have hailed with much satisfaction the issue of Reply Post-cards,' and should like to recommend them to the use of our correspondents.

It would greatly facilitate our office work if our friends would kindly avail themselves of this new medium of communication whenever the nature of their correspondence

suffer something in obedience to the voice of GOD-is sure not to be mistaken.

**

*

The daily trials of life are called 'little': those small vexations caused by stupid, disobedient servants, or children-from one's own defects, from disappointments in the weather, in food, in dress, and the like. But these things are not really small, but go each and all to form our character and seal our eternal destiny.

If have a friend who believes in error, you and whom you want to convince of the truth -for his sake, and for the truth's sake, deal positively and not negatively with him. Do not content yourself with trying merely to disprove his error, but make your truth a living truth. Through every avenue force its life home on his life. Let him hear it in your voice, see it in your face, feel it in your whole being. Make it claim its true kinship with the truth that is lying hidden in him somewhere, in the midst of all his error.

Who would go a hundred miles to make a Mohammedan only disbelieve in Mahomet? Who would not go half round the world to make him believe in CHRIST and know the fulness of the Saviour!

THE

HE CHRISTMAS STORY.-Uniform with the Story of the Resurrection.' Five HYMNS by C. F. Hernamon (author of 'The Child's Book of Praise,' &c.), with Tunes by C. A. Barry. Price 3d. Words only, 25. per 100. London: J. T. Hayes; J. Masters; Novello, Ewer, and Co.; and at the Church Extension Depôt, Paternoster Row.

'Sweet and simple, they are likely to prove very effective in teaching the wondrous story to the little ones.'-New and Old.

Dotices.

THE workers of the Shoreditch Needlework Society have made a quantity of flannel and serge petticoats, also underclothing of all sizes in unbleached and white calico, trusting that friends when purchasing for Christmas charities will kindly patronise them. All articles at very moderate prices. Please address orders to

Mrs. MARTIN,

81 Foulden Road, Stoke Newington;

instead of previous address

4 Farleigh Road,

A RETREAT will be held at the Home of the Sisters of the Church by the Rev. George Bayfield Roberts, beginning November 14, and ending November 18. Those desirous of joining should apply to

The Mother Superior,
Home of the Sisters of the Church,
Randolph Gardens,
Kilburn, N.W.

As has been already announced in these columns, the Philothespian Club is kindly giving an amateur dramatic performance at St. George's Hall, Langham Place, on December 9, in aid of the funds of the Convalescent Home at Broadstairs.

The pieces chosen for representation are 'The Ladies' Battle,' by the late J. W. Robertson, and 'Creatures of Impulse,' by W. S. Gilbert, both authors' names being guarantees for a delightful evening's amusement.

The Philothespian Club is one of the oldest and best of the London histrionic societies; its acting members are far above the average of such amateurs. But beyond this, another peculiarity of the Club deserves prominent mention; it is essentially businesslike, and there is no fear that the money our readers may expend on their tickets will be frittered away in unnecessary stage requirements, and so reduce the margin left for the pressing needs of our Convalescent Home. At the same time there are legitimate expenses inseparably connected with such entertainments, and all who desire to see a large balance handed over for the benefit of the sick children are entreated to do what they can in the way of mentioning the oncoming performance to friends-inducing them to purchase tickets and to advertise the matter in yet other circles.

The Club has on previous occasions handed over to charitable institutions such sums as 77., 100l., and 135., but then an appreciative public has worked with them in a vigorous effort to secure a full house, and this effort will we feel sure not be wanting in so good

a cause as ours.

The prices of places will be-Stalls, 5s. and 35. (numbered and reserved); Balcony, 2s. 6d. ; Gallery, Is. Tickets may be obtained from Mrs. Maberly, 35 Randolph Crescent, Maida Hill, W.; Mrs. Nesham, Claremont House, Surbiton; Mrs. N. Rattray, 70 Gloucester Terrace, Hyde Park, W.; and from the Hon. Secretary to the Club, E. W. Jaquet, Esq., II Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, who will also be glad to send circulars of the performance to those who will kindly undertake to distribute them among their friends.

No. 12.-VOL. V.

A Christmas Greeting from S. Mary's Convalescent Home, Broadstairs.

HE walls of the Convalescent Home at Broadstairs are now making goodly and substantial show; and, from those half

finished walls, we must send a few words of Christmas greeting to our friends. What if it be two or three weeks before the time? Is not the greeting ever welcomeas a well of water springing up in a dry and thirsty land?

What is the great Christmas message?
It is :-

'Glory to GOD.'

'Peace on Earth.'

'Goodwill towards Men.'

And is it not in dependence on the power of Almighty GOD, and in order to promote His glory, that we have begun this Home for very poor and very suffering children?

It must be to the glory of God to imitate the example of Him who came to heal the broken-hearted, to give health to the sick, sight to the blind, feet to the lame, and new life to the dead.

Miracles of healing belong, it is true, to Him alone; but to follow in His steps, to bind up with oil and wine the wounds of

PRICE 2d.

those who lie helpless on the sad High-road of life, to hold the cup of cold water to the parched lips of the sufferer-this belongs

to us.

'Peace on earth; Goodwill towards men? Shall we not be blessed peace-makers, between class and class, if we remember in practice that GOD is no respecter of persons ; if we teach by word and deed that—

All must be precious in our sight, Since CHRIST on all hath shined. The poor, it is true, are never to cease out of the land. So it is ordered by GOD. But it is likewise His command, that those to whom He gives wealth shall regard themselves simply as His stewards, and shall one day give an account of their stewardship. He gives, to such, great opportunities of manifesting goodwill to the brethren, of proving that what they appear to have of this world's goods, they do but hold in trust for the benefit of any members of the great Christian family that have need.'

Who, we may ask again, have more need than suffering little ones, totally unable to help themselves, and with parents too poor to provide even the commonest necessaries!

It is for these that we confidently beg the good will of all who read Our Work; and, to convince them of the urgent need that exists for the Hospital we are building, we will give a few details of some of the cases received at our temporary Broadstairs house, during the last few weeks.

N