miles to the north. Instead of being softened by this conduct, they conspired against him even before he came near to them; and the envy and hatred they had indulged in brought forth the dark plot of murder and lies. APPLICATION.

JESUS CHRIST, the Saviour of the world, was sent by His Father with a message of mercy. He walked through the fields searching for his brethren. He followed them afar, and all the return for His love was—'They conspired against Him to slay Him.' What part or lot have I in this matter? My Saviour is looking for His shepherds and His sheep. He is anxious to know if it is well with them close to the enemy's country. He is looking for me. How am I responding to the call? Am I overjoyed at the sound of His voice? Am I grateful for His care, or am I conspiring against Him? Am I stifling CHRIST in the pit of my sinful heart, and then seeking to lay the blame upon some evil beast? Am I with the ten or with the One? Do I look upon His great promises and prophecies as idle dreams, and take part with the vain philosophies of the world? If I do, I am like the brethren who conspired against Joseph to slay him. I am like the Jews who murdered the Brother who would have saved them.

AFFECTION.

O dear LORD JESUS CHRIST, I thank Thee with all my heart for coming to see if it be well with me. I would make a throne for Thee in my heart, and pray Thee to abide with me for ever. When I see Thee afar off, may I run to welcome Thee! When Thou drawest nigh, may I rejoice with a pure heart!

RESOLUTION.

So to act that I may be glad to be found by JESUS.

THOUGHT.

'My soul is athirst for God.'

Keuben's Half-heartedness.

First Prelude.-Picture: Reuben looking into the empty pit.

Second Prelude.-Prayer: 'O LORD! I pray Thee to enlighten my understanding and to inflame my will, that I may learn from this meditation the necessity of strongly opposing evil.'

CONSIDERATION.

The eldest brother was moved with compassion for his innocent young brother. Two of the ten seem to have been kinder-hearted than the eight others. Reuben would have saved Joseph altogether; Judah wished for a lighter measure than death. But neither were brave enough to resist evil. Reuben reproves not evil; he only suggests another kind of death, in order that he may return and save his brother in secret; he is ruled by policy, expediency, love of popularity, fear of turning numbers against him. Had he boldly denounced the wicked proposal of his brethren, he would have been on the side of JEHOVAH, and prevented a cruel wrong; he would have saved himself long years of remorse, and long years of deceit towards his father. The wrath of his brethen would have been perhaps terrible, but short. The misery his half-hearted conduct produced was deep and long.

APPLICATION.

How often I am half-hearted, afraid of opposition, fearful of the world's opinion! I think a straightforward course unwise; so I invent excuses, slightly blame those I really admire, speak of their rashness in order to excuse my own lukewarmness. I do not wish my brother to be killed, but I advise him to be stifled. I put him in a pit just to gain a certain sort of credit with the world for prudence and sagacity, and then I think I will come and take him out secretly just to save my own conscience. But the world, perhaps, is a little too strong for me, and when I come to the pit I find my Joseph is gone, and my portion nothing but lamentation and woe. Why am I so faint-hearted? Why do I not at once that which is right, leaving results in the hands of GOD? I will choose His side, and the side of His servants, and neither palter nor parley with the world.

Monthly Botes.

E have been able to carry out our intention of securing additional house-room at Broadstairs, as a temporary arrangement, while the new Home is in course of building. The friends of little sick Londoners will be glad to learn this, for it means that we shall not-as last year-be compelled to refuse so many child-convalescents who stand in sore need of such a refuge. No; so far as we know, we shall be ready, in and after April, to receive as many children as the still limited space will admit of.

Meantime we are anxiously looking out for a little help with the furniture, of which we spoke last month. Twenty-four additional beds will, we hope, be the result of this extension of our premises; and we think there must be amongst our readers quite twentyfour persons who would gladly contribute a bed each. 30s. will cover the cost of a fullsized bed, 26s. of a smaller one, 1. 1s. of a baby's cot; and these prices, of course, include everything in the way of sheets, pillows, coverlets, &c.

But, besides beds, we want a few tables and chairs, a cupboard, two or three common baths and cans, and an invalid couch. The walls, too, will look cold and bare without

the addition of some pictures and texts. We have received two or three of the last-named decorations; also some blankets from a very kind benefactress, and a few counterpanes. If the wherewithal to buy the remainder of the fittings is sent us, together with contributions to cover the first year's rent of 50%, we shall set to work to house our little guests this spring, with a good heart and courage.

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A clergyman writes for further information about the One Hour Services mentioned in this month's Our Work, and for a copy of the handbills, &c., used. He says, 'I think the idea excellent, and hope to start something of the same kind in this neighbourhood.' We thank GOD that even one parish priest has been moved to consider the needs of the overworked portion of his flock, and to step outside the accustomed groove in order to help them.

These services at Kilburn have continued to be very well attended. The room is a very large one, and it has sometimes been crowded. The experiment may therefore be regarded as quite successful. Working men and women-often surrounded by their whole family, down to the infant in arms— form the congregation; and a mother may be heard to say anxiously, as she goes out, 'I hope I've got all my little fry.'

Perhaps one attraction lies in the title of this novel Evensong-Short Services for Busy People.' It certainly expresses more sympathy than the notices one often reads of 'Mission services,' which seem to take it for granted that the poor stay away from church only because they are too slothful, ignorant, vicious, and godless to care to go.

'I have just read the first number of The Banner of Faith, and I must say that I am very pleased with it. I have placed it upon my list of publications, and shall do all in my power to make it known. I must say that I have for a long time felt sorrowful that so small an amount of actual aggressive work is going forward, especially among the lower classes; for while the infidel and the political Dissenter never were so active as they are at present, we, as Churchmen, have for a long time been too quiet-content with merely occupying our own position.

'I have felt this, in a very painful degree, in connection with the work of colportage. The 130 colporteurs sent out by the two Societies are nearly all Dissenters, and they make their influence felt as they travel about the country. I have been for the last two years trying to do what I could to remedy this state of things. The men employed by me are all members of the Church of England, and go forth as such, and I think their work will be found well worthy of attention. 'East London and Eastern Counties 'Colportage Association,

'51 Victoria Street, West Ham Lane, E.'

doubtless, others poorer; but everything
which has been got to add to the decency
and beauty of our services I have had to
get myself. I desire to do all that I can for
GOD's glory; but I am straitened by the fact
that I have a wife and ten children to pro-
vide for, and only 130l. a year wherewith to
make that provision. Should you have any-
thing at your disposal which may help us to
make our services-in dignity and beauty-
more worthy of the Great Being to whom
they are offered, I shall feel very deeply
obliged. Our wants are very numerous. If
you have any good tracts to impress upon
the minds of people not much addicted to
thinking, the plain teaching of the Church,
I should very much like to obtain them.
'I am, yours, &c.,

'S. S. RICHEY,
'Somerside, Prince Edward's Island.'

A Missionary, writing from Prince Edward's Island, says :-'I serve two churches, and am surrounded on all sides by Presbyterians, Romanists, Methodists, and other Dissenters. We have, between the two churches, only one antiquated Communion Service-silver plated and much tarnished by age. The chalice is so weak, from wear, that I have frequently had to take it to the tinsmith's to get the bowl refastened on to the stand. For one of our altars we have no covering of any kind; for the other a friend gave us a crimson cloth. We have but two surplices in the Mission. One has been darned till it will stand darning no longer, and the other is fast tending the We have no altar-linen of any kind except one white cloth. . . . Having given you a list of our deficiencies, I do not desire to beg from you on the score of the great poverty of my people, for there are,

same way.

The Rev. F. K. Murray, of Heart's Content, Newfoundland, desires to tender his most grateful thanks to all the kind friends who have so generously forwarded him. papers and periodicals during a sojourn of almost nine years in Newfoundland, and to those also who have contributed in any way towards the erection of the new church at Heart's Content. For this funds are still required, and will be gratefully accepted by the Rev. C. E. Smith, of S. Augustine's College, who is the new rector.

The Rev. F. K. Murray having accepted. the Rectorship of S. Luke's Cathedral Church, Halifax, Nova Scotia, would be glad to have papers, &c., forwarded to him there.

The papers, &c., for the Guild Readingroom, St. John's, will now be received by the Rev. A. Heygate, M.A., the Senior Curate of the Cathedral.

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From Wakensana, Essequebo, comes the following kind letter:- Before you receive this letter you will, I trust, have had delivered to you eighteen bottles of guava jelly and two of Cayenne pepper. As the latter is genuine, without any brick-dust, I should advise a certain amount of caution in using

it. The small flask was made by my housekeeper, and is good; the other bottle was made by a coolie, and is not nearly so hot. The guavas were picked in the bush, by some of my school-children, and the jelly was made by two of the communicants of my chief church-S. Paul's, Zealandia. The gift is intended for the delectation of the orphans, and we shall be disappointed if they do not enjoy the jelly.'

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Here is a letter from a Nova Scotian Missionary: I am exceedingly obliged for the bound copy of Our Work, which reached us by yesterday's mail, and is now being read with great interest by my own family. So soon as it can be spared, I will lend it to some careful members of my congregation, for I know of nothing so likely to stir up within them a zeal for self-sacrificing work for CHRIST, as this Magazine. I have already been lending the numbers which reach me monthly, and they have produced a very good effect. The work for the poor, the orphans, and the navvies therein depicted deeply interests our people-the more so because I tell them I visited the Sisterhood, the Orphanage, S. Augustine's Church, and the other centres of Church work in Kilburn, and have related to them many additional particulars of the work going on there, which the good Sisters have not mentioned. When they read the appeal in Our Work last winter for fruit, &c., for the Orphanage, several expressed much regret that the distance, risk, and cost of transit prevented their sendingas they greatly desired to do-apples and other fruit and materials for the Christmas treats for the orphans and the poor in Kilburn. The finest apples perhaps in the world can be had in abundance here, in the autumn, for four, six, and eight shillings sterling per barrel. If, as we expect, an opportunity of sending direct, by steamship, from the neighbouring town of Annapolis to London should offer next autumn, we will not forget the orphans. GOD bless and prosper all your good works! On reading the accounts in Our Work of the destitution

around you, our people, as well as myself, greatly wonder at the generosity of the Church Extension Society's grants to poor parishes abroad. For this reason I forbear to tell of the wants-in the way of Sundayschool books, &c.- of a chapelry eight miles from this in a Mission now unable to keep a clergyman. The chapel nearest to my parish. has been given to my care by the Bishop, but the other two farther off are closed. I had a pathetic appeal from a Church family in one of these neighbourhoods (twenty miles from this) last week, and have managed to secure for them the services of a lay-reader -a Divinity student of our College-during the summer vacation of three months. But perhaps you will kindly interest some good gentleman or lady to send a few Sunday-school books, such as the Catechisms quoted in Our Work, and library books, to my address, for the Sunday-schools at Rossway, in the Mission of Digby Neck. H. B. Higginson, Esq., 19 Sweeting Street, Castle Street, Liverpool, England, will kindly forward any parcel to me. Prayer-books, or Hymns Ancient and Modern, would be very acceptable; but books for day-schools are of no service, as those used in our public schools are prescribed by law. I do not ask for new books; those partly worn, if not too dilapidated, will suit my purpose.'

The same correspondent writes: 'If the Orphanage, instead of being three thousand miles away, were anywhere within fifty or even a hundred miles of us, many a contribution of fruit, or jam, or wild berries would be sent to gladden the hearts of the little ones and the invalids.

'Money is scarce indeed with us, whilst the fruits of the earth are plentiful in their season. Last year hundreds of baskets of cherries were left to fall off the trees, so bountiful was the crop of this delicious fruit.'

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Very shortly-when spring is fairly in-we hope to begin the building of our Convalescent Home at Broadstairs. With this beginning we must expect difficulties and anxieties, in which all the help and sympathy

our friends can give us will be needed. On their ready help and warm sympathyjndging from past experience-we may confidently reckon; so now, in our proposal to hold a sale of work this summer in one of the large halls of a fashionable part of London, we beg and hope for their kindly co-operation.

Hitherto our sales have been held in our own schoolrooms at Kilburn. This arrangement has had many advantages, but it has also had disadvantages. Many do not care to come so far, and the novelty, which at first impelled some to overcome the inconvenience, is now past.

In our scheme we earnestly beg the assistance of all, and especially of our London members. Who will consent to take a stall? We hope many will give early notice of this intention. The hall in which the sale is to be held, is not yet decided on, and we shall be glad of advice and suggestions as to locality and arrangements. We think this will be a good time for our members to obtain help from their friends. We know that many, during Lent, are willing to give some part of their time to work for charity; and the crying need of a Convalescent Home for children is so well recognised, its aims touch so many hearts, that we hope for a large band of helpers.

Willingness to help us being taken for granted, perhaps our friends may ask, What can we make? What will sell best? Wellof clothing for the poor we can never have too much; we have a little of this, but absolutely nothing else. We think prettily-made children's clothing would find a ready sale; also good fancy articles, paintings on china in oils or water-colours, wood-carvings, jewellery, and the many useful and ornamental articles which are now found at such sales.

Our February Magazine was scarcely in the hands of the public before one of the two hundred pounds required to make up our hoped-for thousand was sent to us. There remains but one hundred wanting; perhaps next month we may be able to report that

the last hundred has come. If hope were prophetic, our warm and earnest hopes would soon draw in, not only that one hundred, but many following ones.

Dotices.

LADY having presented two handsome lecterns, and being much interested in the beautiful old church at Rye, is desirous of making a collection for a reredos. Could anyone see how much it was needed, many lovers of God's House would help towards this object. The parish is a very poor one, and the Vicar is doing all he can to collect for the restoration of the church. Subscriptions will be thankfully received by Mrs. Gutch, Porteus House, Paddington.

THE CO-OPERATIVE NEEDLE-
WOMEN'S SOCIETY.

Thanks to the steady, kindly interest of friends, the Society now enters upon an advanced stage of its life. It has gained a habitation of its own. Large and admirablyfitted work-rooms have been secured at 34 and 35 Brooke Street, Holborn (top floor), where, for the future, all business will be carried on.

It will give real pleasure if old friends and all who are interested in our venture would visit us there.

Our list (which includes all materials) has, in the light of our now considerable experience, been carefully revised. It must be borne in mind, that, with some small exceptions, handwork is supposed throughout. Also that all payments must be strictly cash. It is hard for those who are not conversant with the details of a business with small capital to realise the sore straits which result from delayed payments.

All communications should be addressed Mrs. ALISON,

to

34 Brooke Street, Holborn.