THE ANTI-SUNDAY-TRAVELLING UNION.

THE ANTI-SUNDAY-TRAVELLING UNION.

HIS union has for its object the suppression of Sunday travelling. It is the combined influence of the many individual Sunday travellers of Great Britain, which keeps at work over two hundred thousand railway, tram, omnibus, cab, and steam-boat men, during the day which God has appointed for their rest. Would those who use these public conveyances unite in refraining from their use on Sunday, se two hundred thousand men would be set free to enjoy the day of which is theirs by right, but of which they are now deprived. It must surely be from want of thought rather than of heart, that many who use public conveyances on Sunday are guilty of the ss selfishness of entirely depriving these men of the very blessings pleasures which they are trying by travelling to increase for themres. The traveller in train, omnibus, or cab, to a distant place of ship to some favourite hearty service, or eloquent or much admired cher-keeps those employed about these conveyances from attendany place of worship far or near, and from hearing God's word from lips whatever. He who goes in a public conveyance to visit a ad on Sunday, not only keeps these men from seeing their friends, even deprives them of the society of their own families. While the elling pleasure-seeker, by desiring to enjoy his Sunday more than elieves he can do in his own home and neighbourhood, robs these ic servants of the enjoyment of Sunday altogether. But what can said of the minister of the gospel who uses public conveyances unday? Not only is he depriving these men of their day of rest, he society of their families, and of all opportunity of public wor; not only is he, by his example, encouraging others to do the , but, through his inconsistency of conduct, he is repelling them God creating in their minds a dislike for ministers of religion, thus rob them of their Sunday's rest, and so hardening their hearts st all influences of religion. Surely the clergyman or minister travels on Sunday is defeating his own object. Desiring to draw to the Saviour, he is forcibly repelling these public servants from

doubt, many specious arguments will be brought forward in supof Sunday travelling. It will be said by some that "Sunday is nly day for the poor in crowded cities to get a breath of fresh air e suburbs ; let them take the train or tram and enjoy the blue sky,

green trees, and wild flowers." But, we would ask, is it the very who are crowded so pitifully in noisome alleys, who use public con ances? Most surely not. Their poverty is far too sad a realit admit of their spending any money on trams, omnibuses, and tr Do not the Sunday pleasure-seekers come rather from the be circumstanced classes, those who enjoy the advantages of Satur early closing, Bank Holidays, and even, in many cases, the fortnig holiday in the summer? These give them ample opportunity of visi fields and lanes, without breaking in upon the day which they need their souls' welfare, as much, at least, as they need fresh air for t bodies.

Again, it may be argued, that Sunday is the only day for the w ing classes to visit their friends, as they not only cannot go other d but, were they able, they would find their friends out at work. But not the above named holidays afford opportunities of visiting dist friends? And even did they not, can it be just and right that one p of the community should be debarred from spending Sunday with th own families (their children growing up with hardly any knowledge their father), in order that another may visit his distant friends? 1 statement that the few must suffer for the many, cannot in this case urged; for two hundred thousand in one kingdom alone can scarcely called "few," however great the proportion of "the many " may be.

Perhaps there are some who will put duty as the ground for Sund travelling, who fill the post of organist at a church or chapel some distan from home, or they belong to a choir equally far away, or perhaps, eve they teach in a far off Sunday school, or, in the case of clergymen ministers, they have a distant Sunday duty to perform. May we, wi all respect, inquire whether these duties are not really within walkin distance, if due time were allowed for the walk and a little self-deni exercised? If the answer be "no," then we would most earnestly ask "Are you quite sure that the engagement in question is a God-give duty? God never gives a duty without the power to perform that duty and every detail connected with it, in strict accordance with His Will and it cannot be the will of Him "who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. ii. 4), that an man should be kept from the means of grace, as the servants of publi conveyances are, by Sunday travelling. Therefore, how can any work which necessarily involves Sunday travelling, be a God-given one? And if not God-given, surely, the sooner it is laid aside the better.

No doubt, those who travel on Sunday, to reach a favourite preacher

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or place of worship, will have some argument in support of their practice, though it is most difficult to find one with any plausibility. We would remind such, that where public conveyances are to be had, churches and chapels of all kinds are generally plentiful, and one to suit them could no doubt be found within walking distance from their homes. Perhaps they may say they derive so much more benefit from the distant service or preacher, than from any other. Yet, can any worship be truly acceptable to God which keeps even one of His creatures from worshipping Him? And does His blessing really rest on the hearing of His Word, when that very hearing shuts out another immortal soul from all sound of the message of Life?

It will doubtless be urged by some, that public conveyances would run just the same, and as many men be employed on Sunday, were they never to travel on that day. If such a thought occurs to one mind, no doubt it does to hundreds, and were each of these to abstain from Sunday travelling, it is certain that they would be the means of liberating a few men, at least, from Sunday labour. And surely our personal influence, however small, should always be used as though it were the casting vote in the point at issue. In the "Anti-Sunday-Travelling Union," however, is a means for all of vastly increasing their power to stop the running of public conveyances on Sunday. By joining the Union you will not be pulling hopelessly single-handed against an overpowering tide, but adding your influence to that of many other fellow-members, who together will strive to stem the now mighty current of Sunday travelling. The co-operation of each one who reads these words is earnestly asked for, both by personally abstaining from travelling on Sunday, by discouraging all such travelling, and by making the matter a subject of earnest prayer.

In becoming a member of the "Anti-Sunday-Travelling Union" you will have a simple and defined means of influencing others—by telling them of the Union and asking them to join also. Those who wish to join will please send their names and addresses to Miss J. Chase, Haddon Lodge, Quex Road, Kilburn, London, N.W.; or to Miss Smith, 103, Belsize Road, Kilburn, London, N. W., together with one penny entrance fee and a stamped envelope; when a card of membership will be sent them. The entrance fee is to defray the expenses of printing, etc.; as it is desirable that the Union should be self-supporting.

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THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

"OUR FATHER."

YEY redto BY EVA EVERED-POOLE.

ATHER has been away for a few days, he is coming back at four o'clock, and just half-an-hour after the big hall ne clock has struck, the carriage rolls up the avenue, the hall door bell rings, the man-servant opens it wide, and bys Mr. Marchant is at home. Such a happy, comfortable vedere webhome bi

On But to-day he misses something, and somebody! Cecil, the brightfaced and loving-hearted little daughter, is nowhere to be seen. used to come skipping down the drive to welcome him, or to hide behind the hall door and spring into his arms after his fortnightly absence in town, and somehow the coming home to-day feels strange after the past, and he wonders where she can be?

But he does not see her until dinner-time, and when dessert is on the table Cecil comes in and looks confused and sheepish. Father knows the truth; there has been something wrong. She has seen her mother take her father into another room before dinner and her guilty little heart has said to itself, "Now father knows all about it, and he will never forgive me."

Poor little girl! she was very uncomfortable, knowing she had done wrong. Cecil's big eyes venture over to his face to see whether he is angry or not. And oh! the joy, the relief, the gladness, when after a few moments of still suspense, her father draws her so close, so very close to his heart, wraps his arms all round her and whispers, "I know all about it, little one, and I mean to forgive and forget.'

Do you think Cecil's father could have borne to keep his little girl a month or six weeks in suspense as to whether he had forgiven her or not? Oh, no! He could not have borne to do so. Do you think, dear little friends, that God, the great Father of all, could ever keep a poor, sad soul, who is sorry for the sin, in darkness or doubt as to whether all its sins are forgiven? I am quite sure He could not. I know if any of my readers are really sorry for their sins against their loving Heavenly Father, and want to try and please Him for the future, that He knows all about it, and is so very, very glad to fold them in His arms of mercy

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I to whisper, "I know all about it, and I am ready to forgive and to get." He cleanses away the sins in the blood of the Lord Jesus. Sometimes people ask me if they may be quite sure that their sins are given. Well, you know that the Bible says, "Like as a father pitieth children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." And we know , when on earth, Jesus Christ said to those who came to Him, "Thy be forgiven thee; go in peace." I believe that just as Cecil knew, ost without asking, by the look of her father's face, the clasp of his ng arms, and the touch of his tender lips, that pardon was hers, so and I may know. You and I, if we have in our own way, however y and feebly, yet really and truly, prayed to the Lord for His pardon ur sins for Jesus, His Son's sake, may be sure of His loving forgive

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." He is "ready to ve."

ILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH ON THE UNION NEW TESTAMENT READINGS.

BY A. W. B.

n thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law" (Psa. cxix. 18).

MARK ix, 30 to LUKE iv. 16.

|PRIL 1.—Mark ix. 39.

Christ plainly forbids us to condemn any who are working for Him simply because they are not following Him in our way (see Rom. xiv. 4, and Phil. i. 8).

2. Ch. ix. 49. So every true is object (1 Pet. Hal. iii. 3).

Fire tests and purifies, and also consumes the disciple must needs go through the furnace iv. 12, 13; 1 Pet. i. 6, 7; see also Num. xxxi.

3.—Ch. x. 15. "As a little child"; that is, with unquestioning and grateful love (see 2 Kings v. 13). Let us beware of being upted from the simplicity which is in Christ" (2 Cor. xi. 3). 4.—Ch. x. 30. "Now in this time." We may know now "the God has prepared,” etc. (1 Cor. ii. 9, 10). Christ counts the gain a edfold more than the loss we suffer in "giving up" for His sake. 5.-Ch. x. 32. "Jesus went before them." He is both the and Companion of His people (see Jno. x. 4)..