AT THE DROWNED LAMB. T this season the new-born lambs are among the pleasant signs of returning spring. It is an anxious time for the shepherd, although the sight suggests only playful gambols to young folk. Especially in mountainous regions, to the master of a flock it is a time of care, and to his shepherds and their faithful dogs one of ceaseless toil. In spite of all watchfulness, various mishaps occur, even in places where no wild beasts or birds of prey can reach the tender young ones. Our picture shows a sad incident witnessed by the artist among the Westmoreland hills. In that county and in Cumberland, and the mountainous parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire, as well as in the Highlands of Scotland, the flocks are of the "black-faced or heath breed. Both male and female of this breed have horns, though they are larger and more twisted in the males. The face and legs are black, but not of the lambs at first. In a lonely and wild part of the country the artist heard unusual cries of distress, and on getting near saw a heath ewe standing beside the body of its drowned lamb. "Alas! the mountain-tops that look so green and fair! I've heard of fearful winds and darkness that come there; The little brooks that seem all pastime and all play, When they are angry, roar like lions for their prey." before, for the body was swollen and misshapen from the beginThe poor lamb had probably been swept away by a flood days ning of decay. No shepherd had been at hand, and no " Barbara Lewthwaite" to come to the rescue, as in Wordsworth's pretty and truthful pastoral of "The Pet Lamb." The mournful appeals of the mother were distressing to hear, and the passing stranger could do nothing to give relief. The incident was one to make a deep and lasting impression. The picture and record of it cannot but touch a chord of sympathy in the human heart, and give a lesson of kindness for the poor creatures, who have so may read also more thoughtfully some of the passages of Holy much of suffering and sorrow in common with ourselves. Scripture which tell of the helplessness and the many perils of the souls of men, who are likened to sheep having need of a shepherd. Happy for us to know that our Shepherd is tender and wise, as well as watchful and powerful, and is ever present in time of danger and need. We Monthly Religious Record. THE week of united prayer was held as usual at the commencement of the year, in compliance with the invitation of the British Organisation of the Evangelical Alliance. Supplication was offered for, among other objects, religious liberty, and the opening of doors, great and effectual, for publishing the gospel; for the cessation of war, and for the reign of righteousness and peace. The principal meetings in London were held at Langham Hall, in the west, and the Centenary Hall, Bishopsgate Street, in the east. The American Alliance, uniting in this movement, has issued its annual invitation to united prayer. Probably in all the objects which should command the prayers and sympathies of Christian men on both sides of the Atlantic there was never greater harmony between them than at this moment. who has received the pallium from the "Sovereign Poutiff,” and in his dependent bishops, are something in which men may well stand in awe.. THE Church Association have issued a circular stating the course which they recommend for adoption in parishes invaded by Ritualism. Where illegal practices have been introduced, they invite the churchwardens or any parishioner to send to the Bishop a statement of the facts in clear terms, with the names of persons prepared to confirm them on oath, if required, and calling upon him as ordinary to take order "for the appeasing of all diversity," and otherwise to exercise the powers and influence he possesses for the repression of the offences complained of. The officers of the Church Association will be ready to give assistance and advice. The council of the askind)sociation express the opinion that, now that the courts have established the old Protestant construction, the primary obligation to see to the due rendering of obedience to the known and declared law naturally and legally devolves on the Bishops. AN important meeting of clergy (the second of the has been held, by invitation, at Lambeth Palace, under the presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Holy Communion was administered in the parish church. At the meeting which followed for devotion and discussion, the subject proposed was, How, under present circumstances, unity in prayer and action may best be promoted within the Church." The number present at the meeting was about one hundred and twenty, including many of the leading clergy of the metropolis, as well as the archdeacons and rural deans of the diocese of Canterbury. The following clergy took part in the discussion, or offered prayer during the progress of the meeting: the Archbishop, the Bishops of London, Winchester, and Rochester, Canon Farrar, the Revs. T. T. Carter, Arthur Brook, G. W. Herbert, J. C. Ryle, H. M. Villiers, J. Bardsley, F. H. Murray, W. G. Humphry, and W. Boyd Carpenter. None but the briefest accounts have been published of the proceedings, but ne journal states that the Rev. Joseph Bardsley pointed out the incongruity of trying to bring about union with those ecclesiastics who avowedly seek to fold the Church of England in the Romish Church. AN anti-confessional meeting was lately held in the Brighton Pavilion Dome. There was a large attendance. A meeting, for the same object, has also been held at Birmingham. Resolu tions were adopted condemning the practice, calling upon the Archbishops and Bishops to take prompt and active steps for its suppression. Replies have since been received from some of the Bishops to whom the letter and resolutions were addressed. this, and remarked that although he had held many missions, yet never before had he witnessed such unity. AN eight days' mission has been lately held at St. Paul's, Newport, by the Rev. W. H. M. H. Aitken. Mr. Aitken held a meeting each day in the large room of the Young Men's Christian Association (near St. Paul's), at half-past eleven, which from the first was much blessed. Believers flocked to the morning meetings in large numbers all through the mission, and derived much profit from the expositions of Scripture given from day to day. But the largest gatherings were in the evenings, when, night after night, the people filled the church, and listened, with deepest interest, to the faithful appeals of WE mentioned, last month, the appointment of Dr. J. H. the preacher. It is believed that the services were attended by Titcombe to the new Bishopric of Rangoon, and of Dr. Valpy nearly, if not quite, the entire number of the clergy and the French to that of Lahore. These gentlemen, and also Dr. Edward ministers of the town-sometimes as many as fourteen being Trollope, received consecration on St. Thomas's Day, at West-present at one meeting. Mr. Aitken was particularly struck by minster Abbey. The consecrating prelates were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Winchester, Bishops Piers Claughton and Anderson, and the Bishop of Sydney (Metropolitan of Australia). The funds for the two new Indian bishoprics have been found almost entirely by the dioceses of Winchester and Oxford respectively. Both the new Bishops are earnest but conciliatory members of the Evangelical party. Dr. Trollope, who was Archdeacon of Stow, who succeeds Dr. Mackenzie as Suffragan Bishop of Nottingham, is a High Churchman. The sermon was preached by Canon Kay, formerly principal of Bishop's College, Calcutta, from Acts xxviii. 30, 31. The Bishopric of Waiapu, New Zealand, held since 1859 by Dr. William Williams, one of the oldest missionaries of the Church Missionary Society, has been accepted by the Rev. Edward Craig Stuart, who has laboured for the same Society since 1850, in Calcutta and elsewhere. Mr. Stuart, and Dr. T. Valpy French, the newly-consecrated Bishop of Lahore, were both sent forth on their labours in 1850 on the same day by the Church Missionary Society. THE Diocesan Synod of Moray and Ross lately met at Inverness, for the purpose of considering a proposal to adopt the title and office of an Archbishop in the Scottish Episcopal Church. Bishop Eden presided. Resolutions were passed approving the proposal, recommending Bishop Eden, the present Primus, for the office, and requesting the College of Bishops to call a General Synod to legislate on the question. THE determination of the Roman Pontiff to re-establish a Papal hierarchy in Scotland has naturally excited some expressions of dissatisfaction among those whose decided Protestantism has always been regarded as one of the most marked features of the national character. It is not probable, however, that the substitution of bishops for vicars-apostolic will do much towards swelling the scanty number of Romish converts on the other side of the Tweed. It doubtless marks, however, very distinctly, an onward step in the projects of the Church of Rome upon the Protestantism of the British Empire. According to the Popish theory, the spiritual powers vested in an archbishop THE handsome chapel erected for the accommodation of the congregation under the pastoral care of the Rev. H. Allon, D.D., and which stands on the site of the old structure in Compton Terrace, Islington, was recently opened for Divine worship. A large number of Nonconformist ministers were present, as also several prominent members of the Church of England, including Mr. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., the Hon. and Rev. W. Fremantle, Mr. T. Hughes, and other gentlemen. The congregations at both the morning and evening services filled every available seat, and standing-room could scarcely be obtained. One thousand six hundred sittings are provided in the new chapel. Attached to the building are school-rooms for seven hundred children, a lecture-hall, class-rooms and vestries, and a house for the chapel-keeper, and the total cost is estimated at about 32,000l. The Rev. R. W. Dale, of Birmingham, was the preacher at the opening service in the morning, and the Rev. A. Maclaren, of Manchester, in the evening. At the luncheon, which took place between the services, Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Nottage, among other gentlemen, addressed the meeting, speaking of himself as an old member of that church, which he might now call a grand Protestant Nonconformist cathedral. It is satisfactory to observe the extension of Biblical instruction in Board Schools, in connection with examinations in scriptural knowledge, and the presentation of Bibles and Testaments as prizes to the scholars who have successfully passed an examination. The Bristol School Board have accepted the offer of a lady to give such prizes annually for religious knowledge; and has made an arrangement with the Religious Tract Society similar to that made with Mr. Peek. A grant has also been made of the same kind by the committee of the society, in connection with a similar examination, for the Schools of the Bromley School Board. Other applications have been made. Glad as the Committee are to help in such a work, it is plain that each offer of the kiud accepted involves an additional and permanent expenditure to a considerable amount, for which special provision should be made, so that the ordinary and ever-increasing missionary operations of the Society should not be interfered with. In view of the parliamentary session lately commenced, there has been presented to the Chief Secretary for Ireland a memorial in favour of the closing of public-houses in the sister island on Sundays. It is signed by the Moderator of the General Assembly, by ten Episcopal Bishops and twenty Roman Catholic Bishops, and by nine thousand six hundred and sixty-four representative men, and may therefore be deemed essentially a national memorial. A COMMENDABLE step towards the suppression of drunkenness has been taken by the Irish Roman Catholic Bishops, in discountenancing the practice of holding "wakes" over the dead. It is well known that infectious diseases have been greatly spread by the observance of this heathenish custom. The measures resolved upon by the Irish hierarchy at their recent meeting at Maynooth College are well calculated to stamp out the practice. No one in future is to attend at wakes except the immediate relatives of the deceased. No spirituous or intoxicating liquors are to be used on such occasions. For disobedience of these injunctions the clergy are commanded not to visit the house, not to attend at the interment, nor to celebrate mass for the deceased. THE Rev. Dr. Moffat, the veteran missionary, was lately presented with the freedom and livery of the Turners' Company of London, at the Mansion House. The presentation was made, on behalf of the court of the company, by the Lord Mayor. Dr. Moffat, in acknowledging the compliment, gave an interesting sketch of his labours among the Bechuanas since 1816, when he had laid himself on the missionary altar. After some years he was compelled to return home. Little did he think that his coming home was to be the means of sending out Livingstone to Africa; but the result was that, after hearing his (Dr. Moffat's) speeches and sermons, Livingstone, who became his son-in-law, laid himself out for the service of Africa. It was well worth coming home for that alone. When he first set foot in Africa they had no missionaries beyond the boundaries of the towns, but since then they had not only gone beyond the boundaries of the colony, but were to be found in the whole length and breadth of Africa. It was no longer true that, as had been observed by Swift "Geographers in Afric's maps Put savage beasts to fill up gaps, Put elephants for want of towns." Now their missionaries were pressing forward among the Bechuanas, the Zulus, and other tribes; and they had no fewer than eighty thousand members of Christian Churches. So they might rejoice at what God had wrought. "Prayer and perseverance will do anything," as an American missionary had said. Now they had missionaries seven hundred miles beyond where the work was first commenced among the Bechuanas. THE principal Protestant journal in France, referring to the crisis in State affairs now happily terminated, expresses the confidence with which the new Ministry is received by the members of the Reformed Church. "For," we are told, "not only does this Ministry include Protestants, such as MM. Waddington, de Freycinet, and Leon Say, but more, the two Roman Catholic members who will have to do with our affairs are among the most liberal and the most religious of our Parlia mentary representatives. The chief of the Ministry, M. Dufaure, is already acquainted with the situation of our Church, and the conciliatory spirit which he has brought to bear upon the study of our difficulties has always led him to facilitate the government of the Church by the Church, which has been anew rendered possible by the decree of M. Thiers. As to M. Bardoux, all who know him know that he is one of the most respected and most beloved Deputies, full of interest in religious questions, as is proved by certain articles of his inserted in La Revue Chrétienne,' and already acquainted with our Protestant affairs, as is proved by his report on the question of Colleges." M. Waddington is of English family, and was educated at Rugby School. A NOVEL religious movement is taking place in Sweden, where a petition signed by nearly twenty-five thousand persons has been presented to the King, praying that "The use of the Holy Communion may be free, like the use of God's Word," or, in other words, that the celebration of the Communion may take place also out of the churches, and that the celebrants may be other than persons in holy orders. The Government will probably refuse the prayer of the petitioners, and the consequence will be a disruption in the Swedish Church. Until very lately there was no religious liberty in Sweden. THE discordant elements in the Protestant Church of Prussia appear to be engaged in a conflict the ultimate issue of which none can tell. Orthodoxy and rationalism has each its champions and advocates, and each endeavours to maintain its ground as best it may. The Berlin Synod identifies itself with an unbelieving pastor, and votes for the abolition of the Apostles' Creed; the Synod is rebuked for this by the Supreme Consistory; and the Minister of Worship is called on in Parliament for an explanation. Parliament is told that the matter is beyond its province; and the Minister tries to steer a middle course between the opposing parties. A sceptical laity can hardly aid in the government of the Church in its own interests. IN Hesse-Darmstadt, changes having been introduced into the constitution of the National Church, certain Lutheran pastors and their adherents seceded and formed a Lutheran Free Church. Because they claim the right to dissent and hold Divine service, they have been subjected to heavy fines, or imprisonment in default of payment. THE agencies of the Bible and Religious Tract Societies have been actively at work at the seat of war. Tracts have been distributed in the Russian, German, Polish, Lettish, Esthonian, Finnish, Samoid, Tartar, Bulgarian, Roumanian, Magyar, Sclavonic, and Hebrew languages. A letter from the scene of conflict, speaking of the feeling which was observable among the private soldiers in the Russian army, after some of the reverses which it experienced, says: "As every one who has spent some time in Russia knows, the peasantry-from which class the soldiers are principally drawn-are decidedly of a religious turn of mind, and hold everything connected with religion in high esteem; and this feeling the Russian soldier has carried with him to the scene of strife. I was highly gratified with the humility and childlike simplicity often met with among the wounded; several, nay, many, expressed feelings something like these: 'It is for our sins that all this evil has come upon us; did we but humble ourselves, all would go straight.' If this feeling did but pervade not only the rank and file, but also the officers of the Russians, their country need not fear the result. Recovering from their wounds in our hospitals, the Russian soldiers ask for the New Testament and religious tracts in preference to Andersen's 'Tales' and similar literature provided by kind friends in St. Petersburg; and I do not hesitate to affirm that the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Russian Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Russian Religious Tract Society, and the Religious Tract Society, in London, who assist it, have done and are doing a glorious work, for which not only the friends of Russia, but all Christendom should rejoice and be thankful.” PROTESTANTISM is making such progress in Mexico that the Roman Catholics in that country are alarmed. Their papers contain carnest appeals to the faithful to be constant to the Church and not allow themselves to be led out of the fold. Mr. Watkins, of the American Board of Foreign Missions, writing from Guadalajara, gives an account of several cases of conversion. "At Ahuaolulco (the town in which there was a massacre of Protestants two years ago) the present condition of the Church is a source of great rejoicing. The gospel is being preached with freedom and power." THE Baptist Missionary Society have made arrangements for a mission to the Congo River districts of Central Africa. The entire charge of the missionary expedition has been intrusted to two missionaries who have for some months past been labouring in the Cameroons. The expedition will probably start in March or April next. FROM Livingstonia, Lake Nyassa, Dr. Laws writes: "I am sorry to say there can be now no doubt regarding the suspected fly being really the tsetse. All the cattle I bought when down the Shire in January, and which were brought up here, have died. Industrial operations are seriously obstructed; our usefulness in advancing the civilisation of Africa so much curtailed, and a new site for Livingstonia must be sought for." THE Rev. Roger Price, of the London Society's Mission on Lake Tanganyika, reports his safe arrival at the coast, notwithstanding serious losses from disease and death among the oxen and their Kaffir drivers. "Considering the immense disadvantages we have laboured under," writes Mr. Price, "our success has, I think, been perfectly marvellous-far beyond my most sanguine expectations." "What do you think? May I? He would be angry, but "I can't bear to put a spoke in the wheel for Rose's sake," said John." But I think you are right." "It was not my doing that uncle Chesney took you up, and brought me here," said Muriel. "And I really don't think I am bound to go so far as to refuse to speak to you, John. But going into your house would be a different matter. O how I should like to see Rose!" and she sighed. "You goose! why don't you?" said Chesney. Nevertheless she saw an under-current of something like admiration in his face, and she did not yield. "Don't hurry yourself, Sybel," she said. "I do not mind how long I wait. If only Rose had not a cold!" The carriage was drawn up under shade of an elm, a little way from the garden-gate. Muriel leant back silently, as the others walked away, feeling herself pulled strongly house-ward, and wondering if her resolution would hold out. All at once she found John again by her side, standing close to the carriage, with an arm upon the door. "I want you to tell me honestly how my grandfather is," he said. The old coachman being somewhat deaf, they were virtually tête-à-tête. 66 But He is not ill. He does age, certainly. what can one expect? He is not far from eighty." "How does the change appear?" "I hardly know. He walks less-sleeps more— seems feeble altogether at times. Not when anything excites him. There is no weakening of will.” "No signs of yielding?" "None that I can see. John, you don't look as you ought." "I am not very well to-day." "Has anything been wrong with you lately?" "Nothing much. I have not my usual strength." Then he asked, "How with you, Muriel?" "In what way?" "Key-note pitched yet?" "I am not sure. It is discordant playingoften." "Possibly it sounds better to others than yourself." "O no." Never think so again." "I can't help it. Does it not seem so?" No. Never allow yourself to think that." "I'll try to obey. But as for rejoicing"Well? As for rejoicing?" he repeated. "It has not been difficult with Sybel at hand. But now "The command stands the same.” "Everything will seem dull and spiritless." "Maybe so far as Sybel, or earthly sympathy in any sense is concerned. But you have to rejoice nevertheless. I don't say you can expect not to be troubled, or depressed, or afflicted, but yet always to rejoice in the Lord, who appoints or permits all things." "There lies the impossibility." "Difficulty, not impossibility." Muriel thought for a minute. "John, you don't know what it is to be depressed." "Don't I?"-rather drily. "Do you?" "Now see how unreasonable you are," he said. "You must have your ups and downs, your bright days and dull days, and only be expected to rejoice as much as in you lies,' and nobody is to look for a reasonable explanation of each state. While I, not being supposed to have an inclination that way, must have no sensation of dulness, without being hauled over the coals, if I can't give a precisely He smiled a little. "Are you giving your hearers adequate cause." plenty of the joy-note?" "No. I can't strike it at all sometimes. It won't sound," said Muriel. 66 Why not?" "Different reasons. I get down-hearted-depressed -out of sorts. There is always something." 66 'Always something to keep you from always rejoicing?" "Yes. John, isn't it natural?" Perfectly natural. But the child of God has not to live the natural life. I dare say St. Paul had always something' too, but it did not hinder him from always rejoicing!"" 6 It does not hinder Sybel," said Muriel very low. "But I can't get to that state of things." "What is the something' now?" he asked. "I can't bear Sybel's going away. I shall be so lonely again. John, you don't know what it is." "I can imagine." "There is no one to speak to--no one who understands me-except Mr. Maxwell." "Nevertheless-always rejoicing," said John. "John, can you? Always?" "Not always equally," he said with some gravity. "The burden of life is heavy upon me sometimes, Muriel, as upon others. But the reasons for rejoicing never change." "You can't always feel them.” "I do not at all times equally realise. I know and believe them to be always the same." "And you don't lose them completely-lose sight of them altogether-as I do! What is the reason?" "What affects the rejoicing with you?" "Why, when things don't go smoothly. Unkindness-loneliness-friends leaving." |