THE UNITED METHODIST, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1926.

THE AsirsuLLE COLLEGE DEAD MASTERSHIP (p.71556).

ITED ETHODIST THE WEEKLY JOURNAL • OF THE UNITED. METHODIST CHURCH.

With which Is Incorporated the "Free Methodist." founded 1886.

No. 992 NEW SERIES. [Ozt2.stasl THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1926. [Registered at the General TWELVE PAGES Post Office as•a Newspaper.] TWOPENCE.

INDIA'S STUDENTS SEARCH

THE SCRIPTURES Mr. Gandhi recently offered to lecture • to some students in India on the Gita or the Ramayana.

They asked instead for lectures and discussions on the New Testament.

At Mr. Gandhi's suggestion the Bible Society • supplied them with forty Bibles at half-price for use in these discussiOns.

Fore many years the Society has offered free gifts of Holy Scriptures to Indian University Students. During each of the past seven years, on an average eight thousand of them received copies of the New Testament or Bible.

There is abundant evidence that these books are used by God to convert some, to influence many.

Gifts towards the £450,000 needed to maintain this and other depart-ments of the Society's work may be sent

The Secretaries,

THE BRITISH & FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY, 146 Queen Victoria St., London, E.C.4.

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THE present condition of the Industrial World is a challenge to all sections of the people, Fortunately, the community at last is wide awake to this. Time was when conflicts between masters and men left the com-munity cold. People looked upon them as ebullitions of bad temper, causing general inconvenience for a time, but soon passing away in hopeless exhaustion. The public now, however, has altered its point of view. It has found by bitter experience that industrial conflicts have their serious repercussions upon all classes and, as a rule, leave the innocent suffering as acutely as the guilty. It claims the right to investigate the questions at issue, to form its own opinion as to the merits of the dispute, and to impose the consideration of its judg-ment upon the contending parties.

Not that the public is foolish enough to imagine that it can adjudicate upon the nice points which are really understood only by the experts. The common sense of the public in this respect is proverbial. It frankly leaves with the recognized leaders of industry the working out of those details upon which they only have the special data. It admits that they primarily are the people qualified to form sound conclusions. But in addition to this aspect of the question there are general principles touching such vital points as organization, motive, temper, viewpoint upon which the public claims the right to speak. And inasmuch as its interests are second to none, and its welfare is in the balance, it refuses any longer to be a silent spectator while the pas-sions of the conflicting forces rush on to ruin and in-volve the commonwealth in their tragic fate.

At the present time the public has made up its mind that industry needs, and urgently needs, a new . spirit, that the mere agitator is a peril to the State, and that those who are not prepared frankly and quietly to reason out their case must be made, by the force of public opinion, to stand down altogether. Long enough have masters and men viewed each other with suspicion and anger. Long enough have leaders been tolerated in their public declarations of defiance and revenge. This kind of thing has repeatedly ended in strikes and lock-outs, violence and destruction, hunger and suffering, with their aftermath of hate. Even now, with the pre-sent unrest throughout industry, there are some masters who glibly talk of smashing unions and crushing the men and imposing their conditions of employment by the iron hand of force. And there are labour leaders who constantly use the public platform and the Press for in-flammatory speeches and articles, talk of revolution as if it were a game of skittles in the back parlour, and ostentatiously prophecy a general bust-up I But supposing these rival policies, alike in their reliance upon blind force, are allowed to operate, who is going to benefit by them. The masters? Lock-outs have never increased dividends and brought larger profits. The men? Strikes have always left men and their families impoverished, embittered and broken. Industry? Vio-lent conflicts obstruct industry, .and by 'creating an atmosphere of distrust, cripple enterprise. The com- munity? Industrial war shows a long. trail of red, where family savings, business prosperity, social ameni-ties, and national content lie bedraggled and spoiled. Nol There is no progress, no just settlement, no happy and contented proletariat along this thorn-covered way.

So the best minds of the community to-day re-echo the demand for the cultivation of a new spirit among those directly concerned. People are utterly tired of and dis-gusted with a leadership, to whichever side it belongs, which can only see red. They know that only by exor-cising this spirit can better conditions be established:

Unbiased onlookers feel that, in many respects, the masters are too hide-bound by the methods of the past for the changed conditions of these spacious times. They cling too much to obsolete lines of organization and seem to imagine that there cannot possibly be any better ways than dealing with investments and costs and wages and profits than those transmitted by their predecessors. The British employers shy too ,quickly at the new. Moreover, they show too much fear and suspicion of their employees. They act as though every employee is out for all he can get, irrespective of the capacity of resources. It is silly to look upon every wage-earner as an extremist, . carrying a dagger in his sleeve. The consequence of this mentality is that the employers enter into a council cham-ber in the i wrong mood, they see in every labour leader a wilful wrecker, and they believe that the whole

Trade Union movement is out for spoliation. Only re-cently, a prominent member of the Master's Federation wrote : " I assert thht in my experience the wage-earner has always got the last penny of wage he could ex-tract " Probably the writer believed this, but the public does not, and the public is entitled to say so.

Over against all this, the public has often been irritated by the conduct of labour. There is a feeling that the Unions have seriously blundered in their own interests . by imposing too many restrictions upon the various crafts and upon labour in general. "For example, the policy pursued by the bricklayer over the dilutioh of skilled labour has only resulted in restricting building operations and keeping on the Labour Exchange hosts of capable men who might have been earning an independ-ent livelihood. And the crying needs of the homeless have fallen on deaf ears. Again, restricted output has not brought into employment a larger number of work-men. The policy of ca' canny has made no contribution to the lessening of unemployment. On the contrary, restricted output has forced up prices and hindered the acceptance of lucrative contracts. Moreover, the men-tality of the average workman just now needs readjust.. ing. That mentality is due partly to the folly of un.- progressive masters and partly to the scheming agitator in his own ranks. Nine out of every ten workmen to-day believe that the management is out to do them down, to build tip big dividends at the cost of wages, and to prevent them reaping the just rewards of their labour. As long as the workers feel this, settlements are well-nigh impossible. " It is the task of capital in this country to convince Labour that it intends that Labour shall receive a fair share of the profits of its greater efforts."

Is it not possible for industry boldly to clear the deck of these had legacies of the past? Is it not possible in these potential days of the Twentieth Century for masters and men to exorcise these old, bitter feelings, to open their hearts to a new spirit of mutual forbear-ance and good will, and together to go forward in the earnest resolve to bring about a more equitable and con-tented social order? Why not?

If a new spirit and a new age are ever to be rea-lized, however, certain axioms will have to be accepted by both sides : (1) Oppressive conditions in industry are not conducive to speedy and satisfactory results. Bad workshops, inferior machines, second-rate tools, low wages, make efficiency impossible •, (2) Good wages promote an eager mentality, a relish for the job in hand, skilled workmanship, and quick returns ; (3) Co-partner-ship in any form produces a sense of identification—"It's my show," and of itself eliminates shirking ; (4) Profit-sharing or a system of bonuses ; in other words, a fair share in the prosperity created, puts vim into purpose, and vim makes men put their back into their job ; (5) Finally, good humour, real comradeship between the management and the shops, produces the atmosphere in which industry, business, commerce, agriculture, thrive best. These axioms are not merely theories. They have been put to the test in America, and in many parts of England, with the best results.

But all such ideas are the fruit of the new spirit. They cannot be forced, they cannot be imposed against the will. They spring naturally and spontaneously from the presence of the controlling. spirit. And let it be plainly said, This spirit is from above. Some extre-mists choose to sneer at the idea of the high Christian spirit dominating industry. That is because they .them-selves are complete strangers to the potentiality of such a Presence. Nothing is impossible. The spirit of Christ, operating in and through good men and women, has dominated other spheres of activity. It can and may dominate industry. The'time has come for the Christian Church to make its voice heard, not to discuss politics, or in taking sectional sides as between master and man, or in clamouring for a seat at the Council Board. The Christian Church has a bigger thing, because more fundamental, on hand. It is for the Christian Church to use the unrivalled opportunity of these days to preach the new spirit, which is the acceptance of the mind of Christ. Let the public rise to the occasion and speak with no uncertain sound, and it will make its own con-tribution to the solution of the problems that vex the commonwealth, and to the dawn of a better age.

No multitude is mighty that•has made a 'league with sin,

Nor wealth nor wisdom can defend, when evil rules within, -

For the meek shall overcome them, and the' right the day must win

Since God is marching on 1 RICHARD MANLY.

Capital and Labour.

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554

THE UNITED METHODIST. December. 2, 1926

Hanover Circuit, Sheffield, and Its Sunday Schools.

A SPECIAL committee appointed for the purposes has been examining into the serious decline in Sunday School scholars, which decline has been going on for some years. The report of this special committee has been sent to each church in the circuit for its consideration and action thereon. A copy of this report has been sent us, and we give some of its important findings.

1. It finds that the cause of the decline does not affect Sunday School scholars alone, but-every department of religious work. Concurrent with this decline is a de- cline in the numbers attending Elementary Day School scholars of the same age. For instance : The largest numbers attending day schools up to the age of 14 in Sheffield in-the .year 1919 was 86,196, whilst in 1925 only 81,408 were in attendance, a decrease of 4,788, equal to 52 per cent. Correspondingly the largest num- ber of Sunday School scholars since the war reported by the Sheffield Sunday School Union was in 1922, 33,075, whilst in 1925 only 30,704 was reported, a decrease of 2,371, or 7 per cent. As the Elementary Schools had re-cently enlarged their district, it can with confidence be assumed that the percentage of decrease is practidally the same. So that the first cause of the decrease would appear to be the decline in the " Birth Rate," and

2. The second cause is the careless attitude now preva-lent towards public worship and the Sabbath, helped and encouraged by the gradual giving up of the Sabbath as a day of reflection and rest, and making it a day of pleasure and sport. This, of course, has its effect upon the young people, and also parents do not insist upon attendance at Sunday School as in former days. There is, therefore, a necessity for a great effort to be made by those, engaged in religious education, and we suggest :

(a) Our object should never be lost sight of. Surely it is (1) the formation of Christian character by Sunday School teaching and disciplinary organizations on week evenings. (2) The habit of attending Divine worship, so that (3) the scholar may be passed on in various stages from the cradle until church membership is secured. The, first essential, therefore, is, the teachers must be more earnest and make themselves more proficient. (b) Any school that can should encourage and help their teachers to attend any of the summer schools, so that they may obtain a fresh and more enlarged vision of the greatness of their work. (c) A visit of one of our denominational demonstrators would show the latent possibilities of every school, and we strongly recommend the circuit to seri-ously consider the engagement of one of these demon- strators for the benefit of the various schools of the cir- cuit. (d) The habit of attending Divine Worship would

'be fostered if in some way the Morning School could be revived. We therefore recommend : (e) Each school in the circuit should earnestly discuss the conditions pre- vailing. Though the children who do come to school on Sunday morning, in the majority of cases, stay to church service, yet surely the percentage is very small of the total number of scholars. We suggest that a band of teachers should be obtained who would consecrate, themselves to the morning school and service making this their chief, and, if need be, their only work. To also develop church attendance, we draw attention to some of the well-known organizations, such as " The Graded Church," and "The League of Young Worship-pers." Weeknight meetings such as Christian Endeav- our societies, Guilds, and the like, having a spiritual aim, ought to be encouraged. Also marks for morning church attendance in addition to the usual marks cul- minating with suitable rewards 'would be found helpful. We are aware that ideally this is not thought desirable, but as a means to an end it could be tolerated. We also suggest a more encouraging attitude should be adopted towards persuading our young people to attend the eve-ning service. (f) We strongly recommend the formation of a joint standing committee at each church consist- ing of an equal number from the Leaders' Meeting (who are not teachers) and school, which in a graded school should consist of a superintendent, the school secretary, leader of primary department, and leader of the senior department, together with the minister, who should always preside. The duty of this committee should be to examine every name on the school register with the view of .fostering in a more careful way than ever before every scholar for Junior Church Membership, and pro- viding the needful instruction. (g) To this end also the committee suggest that for_ the purpose of inculcating the fundamental principles of the Christian religion, and of our denotninational polity, the study of such books as "Our Belief," by Rev. R. H. B. Shapland ; " Joining the Church," by Rev. H. 'J. Watts ; " Our Church," by Rev. E. C. Urwin, M.A., ought to be undertaken in each school.

As the "personal touch " Is recognized as the most important in the development of the -youth, visitation by the teacher at the home of the scholar should be seriously undertaken.

In conclusion, your committee deprecates the alarmist statements that are being made as to the decline of the Sunday School. The danger is from within, not from without, and any neighbourhood soon knows where there is a devoted, efficient band of workers, and will fill your school.

Your committee have given such careful thought to the problem we are asked to study, with the hope that this report contains suggestions which, if earnestly con-sidered by the teachers' meeting will make our work more effective. Signed : (Revs) F. Spencer, Superintendent ; H. Turner, Secretary of the Young People's Committee; Jno. Eames, Circuit Secretary.

Little Dots. THE delightful issue of this popular little magazine

for the kiddies, is full of the Christmas spirit ; there are simple tales, easy rhymes and very many pictures, all of which are guaranteed to please the very young people and all for the modest sum of 2d.

Renovation at St. Just. ALL the friends of this historic church will be glad to

hear of its recent thorough renovation. And it has many frienas, not only among the ministers at home, but among emigrants to the Colonies and the United States. It has done a splendid work, and at the time when the tin-mines were in full work it was a great power•in this peninsula. Of recent yeats it has sUffered some change of fortunes. But a band of brave loyalists have steadily supported it, and now it has literally taken on a new lease 6f life. , It had seemed on the point of great advance under the ministry of the late lamented Rev. E. E. Lark, of blessed memory, but first bad trade and then the beloved pastor's illness hindered it. Recently, under the leadership of the. Rev. A. D. Gifford, it has made an amazing improvement. From the first day of his advent he captured the love and enthusiasm- of his people, who have learned to rally to his call, and with zealous unanimity secured success after success. With this result, that now we have a renovated property, the exterior solid and presentable with cement blocks, a sanctuary and school cl6nly and tasteful, disposing to worship; a two-manual organ, but best of .all a congre-gation, reverent, attentive, youthful, enterprising, both large and growing. No wonder the pastor is cheered.

Shortly after the celebrations which followed the re-opening of the chapel, we gathered for the opening of the new organ. This was a Wednesday 'afternoon,. and the Rev. Joseph Hocking kindly took the service. It was a. memorable occasion. Mr. Hocking held thel un-broken attention of the hearers, delivering a warm evangelical discourse of the Celtic Christian type. He stirred all hearts. ' In the same evening the fine choir of High Street Church, Penzance, under the lead of. Mr. and Mrs. Percy Webber, gave a special musical pro-gramme. Mr. G. B. Hicks, J.P., of Sennen; circuit steward, presided. He is a good friend to every cause in the circuit, and incidentally was a school-fellow of our apostolic Sam Pollard. The congregation crowded the chapel to excess, every aisle, nook and cranny being crowded out. Besides the excellent programme, well rendered, there was a record financial result. Special services followed on the two following Sundays, when the early enthusiasm was maintained The chairman of the District, Rev. Josiah Thomas, took one Sunday, and the pastor the other. These improvements have involved an outlay of more than £650, the organ costing over £400. -Much of this is already raised, and it is hoped the balance will be obtained without undue embarrass-ment. Our church is now able to take its rightful place among the sanctuaries of this little Cornish town, and a new era of prosperity has undoubtedly dawned. The whole circuit also is astir with fruitful activities.

J. T.

Victoria, Westminster and a Collection.

PEOPLE in the provinces may hear of our down-town churches in London, and the great fight that is being put up against fearful odds—but you must live in London to know and understand the optimism, the undaunted courage, the devotion with which a few people in these down-town, areas keep the flag flying. I cannot forbear writing you of a little experience of mine a few days ago.

I was at the anniversary public meeting of our Vic-toria Church, Westminster, where Dr. A. E. Cope and his- valiant band of workers hold the fort. There were about 60. people present, typical down-town people. My friend, Rev. C. H. Poppleton, the chivalrous champion of all such causes, was in the chair. He promised on behalf of an absent friend to double the collection—up to £10. My mental calculation was—the collection at the maximum will be ; it was £3. The circuit super- intendent minister, Rev. J. T. P. Oliver, challenged the meeting to make the collection It responded with -I-15, and the platform challenged the chairman to double that—and he did. Z.30 collection ! A working man promised £5, and brought it, before' we went home. Six children spontaneously promised ls. each. It was one of the most beautiful and moving things I have seen for some time, for money is scarce and " life is hard-down here." I have been saying in.my heart ever since, "God bless Victoria, and Pimlico, and Bow, and Hoxton, and Battersea Park, and all the rest where brave hearts hold on and hold out ! " London is not alone in this—but you can't beat.us anywhere" in the provinces for these miracles of enduring grace.

WILLIS BRYARS, London District Secretary.

Ourselves and Others. PRESIDENT'S ENGAGEMENTS FOR DECEMBER'.

December lst.—Sunderland, Circuit Rally. December 5th-6th.—Darlington, Circuit Rally. December 12th.—Burnley. December 19th.—Leigh. December 26th.—Burnley.

* * * * * REV. G. PARKER. .

Mr. Parker through a chill has been confined to his home for a little time. We are very glad now to learn and record he is much better.

MUNICIPAL SUCCESS. __ Councillor Handel Wilde, formerly of Manchester, and

one of the best-known men in Blackpool, has won a seat on the Town Council. Councillor Wilde is a man of sincere and practical convictions, and with un-flinching courage gives elEpression to them. He is a real live-wire, and the heartiest congratulations which came to him from all sections of the town's life, are proof of his popularity and the esteem in which he is held. Councillor Wilde is an honoured member of the Spring. field Road Circuit.

* * * •"‘ - DR. W. T. GRENFELL, OF LABRADOR.

London U.M.'s ought not to miss the opportunity of hearing Dr. W. T. Grenfell's; wonderful story of his thirty years' N,v ork:: in Labrador. Until Decem- ber 11th, Dr. Grenfell is giving ,illustrated lectures at the Polytechnic, Regent'- Street. The proceeds go to- wards the Doctor's hospital work in Labrador.

* * * * WANTED, AN " ECHO I "

The retiring editor of the " Missionary Echo " wants another copy for May, 1907, because of the special article therein. Will some kind friend oblige him : but lest there be a deluge( ! ! !) will said friend write first, and all postage will be paid.

Next Week's Issue

Christmas Number. Special Features. Enlarged Issue.

16 pp. Price Twopence.

Jubilee of Brunswick Church, Wakefield.

THE friends connected with this place of worship have lately been celebrating this evenf by a series of special gatherings. The cause originated in about the year 1865, a few worshippers gathering together in a cottage in Hatfield Street: Later, the York Street School Chapel was erected. Eventually, this building was found to be inadequate for the .increasing numbers of worshippers, and a plot of land at the corner of Hatfield Street and Savile Street was secured, upon which the present sanc-tuary was erected. - Rev. J. Billington was the first pastor, and the Rev. W. Dunstan, who has now the over-sight of the church, has laboured faithfully here for the past eight 'years. Up to his coming there had been a mortgage of £1,000 on the building. He at once set to work to clear this off, and, aided by a loyal band of workers, the result was a bazaar by means of which £1,200 was raised. The friends decided to celebrate the jubilee by the cleaning and renovation of the church, and the sum of £500 was aimed at to accomplish this object. Two screens• have been erected at either side of the rostrum, one being the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Sheard, to perpetuate the memory of Mr. and Mrs. R. Cragg ; and the other is dedicated to Rev. W. Dunstan, record-ing for all time his faithful labours for the church. Mr. A.. Twigge has provided a new communion table and christening/font in memory of relatives, and Mrs. Har-greaves has defrayed the cost of 'a new carpet within the communion rails.

Unfortunately, the effort has been somewhat hampered by the present industrial dispute, but persistent labour has triumphed, and the above sum has been more than

-realized. Special services were held on three Sundays. The Rev. W. Dunstan preached on the first occasion, and in the afternoon the choir, augmented for the day, gave the oratorio, "Judas Maccabus," the soloists being 'Mr. B. Maxfield, L.R.A.M. ,(Rotherham), Mr. Smith (Wakefield Cathedral), Mr. Ackroyd (Bradford), Madame Harrison (Bradford) and Miss D. Piercy (Wake-field). The conductor was Mr. C. Wigglesworth (choir. master), and the organist, Mr.- Parkin (Wakefield Cathedral). The soloists also gave items at the evening service. The next day a jubilee 'tea was held, followed by an organ recital by Mr. Hartley, (organist at Selby Abbey). Miss Mabel Sadler was the soloist, -and Mr. E. G. Greaves presided. The Rev. Dr. Brook occupied the pulpit on the following Sunday. In the afternoon, the Sandal Male Voice Choir gave a musical service.

During the following week the choir gave three per-performances-of the operetta, "Phillida.' On the third Sunday the preacher was the Rev. Thos. Naylor (a former pastor). The concluding item was the jubilee bazaar. The first day's opener was Mr. R. L. Thomson, with Councillor W. Patterson as chairman. Next day Mr. A. Ibbertson officiated, when Mr. E. G. Greaves presided. Saturday was children's day, when the children gave the operetta, "Cherry Stones," followed by recitations. Mrs. H. Stott, Bradford (a former scholar in the Sunday School) received the children's purses.. At the conclusion of the bazaar there was much rejoicing when it was an-nounced that just over £500 had been realized. -The actual result of the bazaar was £189, and the total sum was made up with subscriptions and money received from Various efforts.

ANNOUNCEMENT. All communications should be addressed to the Editor, " United Methodist," 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C.4. Advertisements should reach the Publishing Office not later than first post on Tuesday morning. "The United Methodist" will be forwarded, post free, for one year to any address in the United Kingdom, the

Colonies, or Foreign Countries, for 11s. per annum, payable in advance: The Editor is always glad to consider manuscripts. If stamps are enclosed, every effort will be made to ensure the

return of MSS. not used.

PRINCIPAL CONTENTS.

Capital and Labour. By Richard Manly Hanover Circuit. Sheffield. and its Sunday Schools Ourselves and Others ... Jubilee of Brunswick Church. Wakefield Notes and Comments. By R. P. Ashville College: Appointment of Head Master ... "History of Norwich Methodism" ... "Hello! Stranger." By J. F. Dunsmore The Mysticism of Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

By Wilfrid H. Bourne ...

PAC,

Another United Methodist Author

•

558 Letters of Christopher Hunt ...

•

559 In the Temple. By W. S. Green... ... 559 Letters to the Editor ... ••• 560 Adventuring—Right and Wrong. (C.E. Topic).

By Cuthbert Ellison ... 561 Young People's Topic. By Bruce White ... 561 "What Jesus Taught About God." By Harold Wilson. M.A.... 561 Evangelist;c Services — 562 News of Our Churches ... 562

FAGS 553 554 554 554 555 556 556 557

558

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Notes and Comments.

December 2, 1926 . THE UNITED METHODIST. 555

Methodist Union. Our friends the opponents of Methodist Union are

still busy. Within the past week three pamphlets have reached us, all designed to alienate us from our belief in the union of the Methodist Churches. The arguments, it is true, are familiar. The more they appear to be different, the more they are the same. It is difficult to make a fair show in the flesh with such limited material. The threadbare story of how we shall be bound hand and foot by John Wesley's "Notes " and "Sermons " is re-told. Apparently the poor Wesleyans are held in the grip of some reactionary force, while we at present are well ahead, and still going forward. Some-how the facts do not support that theory. Now, what our friends should do, is to point out definite teaching of John Wesley to which we are absolutely opposed, and yet shall be called upon to teach. We should really begin to tremble, if it were 'made clear to us that Methodist Uniorr meant that the man who goes into the pulpit would be under the cruel restraint imposed by an obso-lete theology, and at the same time called upon to preach what he did not believe. After all, we suppose there are limits to. the theological speculations, even of " a Metho-dist Free Churchman " • if there are not, he should be ill at ease in our own Church, for we were bold enough, and narrow enough, to formulate a set of doctrinal standards, Which are as easy to criticise as the harmless " Notes " of John Wesley. There may be terrible things in store for us when Union takes place ; but no hint of these appears when we read the cautious and innocuous reference to "Doctrine" in the Scheme. It simply states that our evangelical doctrines are "generally contained in Wesley's Notes on the NeW Testament and the first four volumes of his Sermons." Of course they are; but there is no demand or request even that we shall preach as Wesley preached, or confine ourselves to his 'Notes." The Scheme says that our doctrines are based upon the Divine revelation in Holy Scriptures ; and these Scrip-tures are "the supreme rule of ;faith and practice." In spite of this, we are told to tremble because "a dead hand " is to be laid upon us. Frankly we cannot work up the feeblest shiver.

Consequences. Now the obvious reply to these comments is that they

are as "threadbare " as they charge our pamphleteers with being. We admit it. There is nothing new to say ; or perhaps we ought not to say "nothing," for we do not remember reading before of one fearful con-tingency that may arise in the United Church. Minis-ters must attend the May Synod, our friends say. We reply "Yes : and ought they not to do so, if they are in health, and not unavoidably. prevented? " But this is represented as a heartless injustice. What of the sick and the dying? What of the bride and the bridegroom during the May Synod? ".Think of it," they say. We do think of it, and content ourselves with the obvious re-flection, that common sense would allow a minister to be present at a wedding ; or withdraw so that he might minister to the sick and the dying. It is an argument of this kind that reveals how severely pressed the oppo-nents of Methodist Union must be for impressive and convincing statements. The sanctity of the minority is proclaimed as fervently as ever. We have always a feeling of regard for the minority ; and to oppress a minority is hateful. But, after all, some one must decide. We cannot stand still : we cannot all agree as to the best way : there are therefore only two possible courses open. One is to agree to the decision of the majority, the other to accept the rule of the minority. We understand it is the latter course which ought to have been taken. History does not encourage us to adopt this method. We have confidence enough in our people to be assured of this, that strongly as they may oppose, they will agree at last to accept the decision of the majority. Nor will any circuit, in spite of the heavy type of the pamphlet, decide at the last, even if the power were given, to withdraw from the great brotherhood of Methodism. In-deed, they will not ask for such power : love and loyalty would prevent. We ought to add that another fearful consequence of Methodist Union which the pamphlet dis-closes is that ministers would make the Circuit: Plan. We are sorry this is so; fon there is no honour we would more joy-fully pass over to the laymen.

A Critic and a Book. Mr. Sherwell has enjoyed himself in his own way in a

recent number of " Monthly Notes." He occupies no less than four pages in replying to our recent criticism of his notes on Prohibtion. Our allusion to potatoes in China stirred him to the depths. " We are impressed," he says, "but not convinced." He is sure, however, he knows something about growing potatoes ; and he hopes we may yet have leisure to indulge the same harmless hobby. But all the same, he chuckles at the way in which the Chinese missionary gulled us. The thing can't be done, he seems to say. Our reply is, it has been done ; but not by means of "seed potatoes," as Mr. Sherwell says, but by means of potato-seed, a distinction which counts for a good. deal in China, and elsewhere. By the same post, strangely enough, came another publication relating to Temperance, but it was of another brand. "The Drink Trade and the Nation " is a book by two men who do know the tyranny and resource of the Drink Trade. Canon Sewell and the Rev. Arthur G. Barker have happily collaborated ; and the .book which has re-sulted from their combined knowledge, enthusiasm, and literary gifts, is one which temperance workers should study from cover to cover. It is a merciless exposure of a merciless trade ; and the methods of those who defend it, are discussed fearlessly and with full. informa-tion. Few books can be more serviceable for the present day than this.

An Ordination Charge. The Rev. Frank B. Turner, of North China, is a

missionary who has won distinction in many ways. Quite recently the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society published a document of his containing the most precise and scientific statement relating to the flood and famine in North China. The value of the report is seen in recognising the auspices under which it is published. But our readers will perhaps be more deeply moved by treading the "Charge" which this veteran (for so we may call him in spite of virility and a persistent youth) gave at the ordination of the Rev. D. H. Smith, B.D. The programme for the service, we observe, provides for "the laying on of hands," and in this Scriptural and beautiful ritual no less than four ministers took part. "Your ministry here,"' he said to Mr. Smith, "means exile. I pray you bear it patiently. . . . And you will suffer from spiritual loneliness . . . but it is in life's darkest, loneliest moments I have been most con-scious of the presence and reality and nearness of God." "Less and less as the years go by, and the language becomes more familiar, will you feel that you are in a land of strangers, and not unlikely at last, like myself, you will look forward with equanimity to ending your days in your adopted land." There is a touch and a glimpse which will stir feelings of gratitude in many a heart. These brothers of ours grow to love the Chinese, not simply because they are members of the great heavenly family, but because they are a loyal and lovable people.

Revivals. It is interesting to note that Dr. George H. Morrison,

the Moderator of the United Free Church of Scotland, chose as the subject of his address to the General

Interest on bath are paid Free of INCOME TAX.

Assembly, " The• Turn of the Tide." The address, which is published in a sixpenny pamphlet, has, of course, the simplicity and charm which mark all his addresses.' Dr. Morrison believes that there is a time of revival in the Churches drawing near ; and he longs and prays for it. He sees that it is what will save the Church as well as the world. He resists those who talk about the next revival as ethical. All true revivals, he urges, have raised the ethical standard : and however low the Churches may have fallen, they never sink quite so low as they were before the revival took place. He is not frightened at the emotion and the excitement of revival tittles. Emotion has its place and its function in life. It may not last, " but while it lasts it leads. It laughs at obstacles. It leaps the parapet. And that is exactly what God wants." "The story of our Christian faith," he says, "is the story of revivals." There is something significant and imp essive in a Presbyterian minister speaking such words as the following to his brethren : " Do you know what happens in revival times? Let me tell you from a long study of the subject. Debts are paid ; quarrels are made up ; bitter enemies are recon-ciled. Trade grows honest ; business life is purified ; wrecked homes revert to love and happiness ; every social relationship is sweetened." Yes ; and how many of the troubles that afflict and oppress OUT Churches to-day would simply vanish in the glow and glory of a great revival ! And many are praying for it.

THE World Alliance was founded some years ago for promoting international friendship through the Churches. It is an attempt to focus the world-wide forces of the Church of Christ in a unified effort to promote peace throughout the world. The British Coun-cil consists of representatives officially appointed by the following Churches : — England—Anglican, Baptist, Congregational, Friends, Methodist (Primitive, United, Wesleyan and' Independent), Presbyterian, Salvation Army, Unitarian. Scotland—Church of Scotland, United Free Church, Episcopal Church, Free Church of Scot-land, Original Secession, Congregational, Baptist, Wes-

leyan Methodist. Wales—Baptist, Cal-vinistic Methodist,' The Church in Wales, Congregational, Wesleyan Methodist, Ire-land—Representatives of the United Coun-cil of Christian Churches and Religious Communions.

The Bishop of Ripon is President of the Council, and the vice-presidents are Prin-cipal Garvie, the Dean of Worcester, and the Rev. Alexander Ramsay, D.D. The council has already done most valuable work, and all who know what has been done are most anxious for the continuation of its work. Unfortunately, the council is most straitened for funds, and is under the necessity of making a special appeal to the individual churches to give a retiring, or other collection to its funds on Peace Sun-day. - If any of our churches can accede to this wish, they will be helping an organization which is doing much to fos-ter international peace through the churches.

IIENRY JAMES,

President of the Conference.

Investment Shares pay 5 per cent Interest.

Crowd Psychology. We knew a City man who always went to watch the

boat-race for the sake of the humour of the crowd. To us this is always the most delightful part of a football match. The psychologist should reap a rich harvest on any Saturday afternoon. The pity of it is that this wise man lives up to the definition of the philosopher ; he is "one who tells us what we all know, in language none of us can understand." What a study it is, for example, to watch• the self-righteous complacency on-the face of the magnanimous spectator, who shouts a word of appre-ciation to a member of the visiting team ! He looks like one who has scaled a hitherto impossible height. He turns on all hands for commendation ; and if this is forthcoming he even repeats his eulogy. He would have us believe that he is prepared to take his life in his hands, and is resolved to he impartial at all costs. It is always a perplexity, however, that remains as tangled as ever, why a lady with an extremely thin and piping • voice, should distress her neighbour by a persistent and ineffec- tive appeal to "Ern." to "play up! " How promptly, too, the crowd denounces any unfair play, that is, if it comes from the side they do not favour. Some lurid epithets are hurled at the offender : and he is menacingly exhorted to be " a sport." " 'Ard Luck 1 " is the verdict when their favourite shoots wildly, and misses the goal by some yards ; while a similar effort on the part of opponents is jeered at by inquirers who want to know what he " was aiming at." It is, however, the eyesight of the crowd that remains the supreme mystery. A great scramble at the remotest corner of the ground ends in the referee giving "touch " when a "corner " was desired. "Corner, ref., Corner! " insists someone from the other end of the ground. No " Corner " is given ; and the ap-pellant is disgusted. He turns to his neighbour. " That was 4 corner, 'Arry?" Harry thinks it prudent to agree. This satisfies the protester : it proves he was right : and he at once gives instructions to the referee to keep his

,eyes open in the future ! But the zenith of delight is reached when the halting home team secures a goal that puts them ahead. It was on such an occasion a tstern man rose in the stand, and with a face as immobile as stone, clapped with slow and awful emphasis ; and having performed the solemn rite, turned east and west to indi-cate that at last righteousness had prevailed, and the universe was now at liberty to proceed. What queer creatures we all are! R. P.

The World Alliance. -

If you have money to invest put it in the

SHERN HALL (METHODIST)

BUILDING SOCIETY

Money wanted at short notice — DEPOSIT and get 4 per cent Interest,

Apply to Mr. F. Martin, Shern Hall, Walthamstow, London, E.17

ADVERSITY HAVE LEFT MANY LITTLE ONES IN DARKNESS

/THE BITTER WINDS OF

CHRISTMAS CANDLES

556 THE UNITED METHODIST. December 2, 1926

Publishing House..

OUR SERIALS FOR 1927. IN the December parcels already despatched, and to

other ministers through the post, advertising matter re our publications and Pulpit Announcements have been sent. Will each of our Ministers do us the favour of urging their people the next and following Sunday to a generous support of our serials r Much time and thought has been given to provide such a programme for • the New Year as will make the " United Methodist Magazine " of continued living interest to our people.'

With the January issue will be given a striking por-trait of the President (Rev. Henry James) printed on fine art paper. With that issue begins a Serial Story : " John Redfern's Hobby-And What Came of It." . By Austin Pastel. Il is a story of unusual interest, show-ing the beneficent influence on life and character of a man's hobby. Full of dramatic situations and human interest, which will carry the reader to the end. Other features of the programme for the year are ; " What the Churches Have Gained or Lost," " Four Modern Gospels," " The Pulpit and the Pew," " The Church in This Age," "The Church's Appeal to Youth," "Our Zions and Bethels." This magazine ,is maintained for our Denomination only. It is well spoken of even by those outside our Church, and it is the cheapest de-nominational serial in circulation.

Our Weekly Newspaper maintains a steady circulation week by week, and is much appreciated by our readers. It exists to record the various activities of our Church, and everything of special interest to United Methodists will be found in this Journal. We are always willing to send specimen copies for free circulation among non-subscribers.

" The Missionary Echo " has been very popular with our people, under the capable editorship of our dear friend, Rev. J. E. Swallow. This work has been to him for twenty years a work of love,, and right well has he done it. This Serial holds a permanent place in the hearts of all who are interested in the overseas work of our Church. With the January issue, Brother Swallow is succeeded in the editorship of this magazine 14y Rev. A. E. J. Cosson, who will, we feel sure, well maintain the high standard achieved by Brother Swallow.

We often hear it proclaimed, even in high quarters, that the day of denominational serials is over. Well, we are maintaining ours-but it is no light and easy task in days of Church declension and high costs of production. They are each worthy of a much larger support. From time to time we have done all we could in a prac-tical way to secure that increased support. In the last resort all depends upon the loyalty' of our people, and upon that we have to rely.

OTIIER PUBLICATIONS. A New Book.

" The Common Bush." By Rev. A. E. J. Cosson. This is a delightful volume of.essays on topics of human interest, and written with all the charm and insight into the meaning of things that have made the author's con-tributions so welcome to our people. Price 2s. 6d. net. This book has been most favourably, 'and, in some quarters, eery highly reviewed and commended. One of our ministers speaks of it as "pure gold." Where Are Our Churches?

Before the end of the year we hope to publish in a suitable form a detailed list of all our churches, classi-ed in Circuits and Districts. We feel sure that such in-formation in a handy form will meet a felt need, and be very useful in many ways. Price. 1s. net.

"Mendiland Memories." By the. late Rev. Wm. Vivian, F.R.G.S., for many years General Superintendent of our Mission in Sierra Leone. This book was published

. about a year ago, and has had a fair sale, but the book is so good and useful that the edition should be cleared. The well-known literary gifts of the writer, in addition to his close experiences. and, correct knowledge of the subject, all-go to make_ this book of distinct missionary value and throbbing interest. Price 2s. 6d. net.

United Methodist Pocket Diary and Calendar, 1927. Specially useful for Ministers and Church Officials. Con-taining Calendar of Connexional Committees, space for each daji- in the year to record Engagements, Baptisms, Class Meetings,\ Collections for Connexional Funds, Visitation List, Notes for Plan for Church Meetings, Book Accounts. 2s. 9d. net.

Our Almanack for 19'27. With 5 coloured illustrations and portraits of the President and Conference Secretary. The Almanack for this year is a new and attractive

- design, prepared for circulation in our churches and homes of our people. lid. each, or ls. 4d. per dozen (postage extra). Single copies (postage 1d. extra). 100 copies 10s. net (carriage paid). Terms for localizing on application.

Communion Booklets for 1927. We issue for the year an attractive Communion Booklet. It contains a small portion for each month with suitable quotation. The portion is perforated and can be torn off, and so serve as a record of attendance at. Communion, I am sure the Churches will find this useful. Price, 10s. for 100 net. A copy on application for a penny stamp.

Membership Certificates. Annual Membership Certifi-cate, for distribution to Church members, certifying their membership, printed in gold and colours. Price 6s. per 100. Membership Certificates-for the reception of new members, with space for name. A beautifully printed card in gold and colours, worthy of the occasion. Price 12s. per 100 net. A Membership Certificate for the 'Re-ception of Junior Members is also supplied at 3s. 6d. per 100.

Sunday School Rewards. We do a fair business in supplying schools with Rewards. But we are anxious to extend .this department of our business. In the December parcel, and also to the School Secretaries, per post, as far as possible, we have sent a copy of our new catalogue of Reward Books. Will those of our school,

that up to the present have not dealt with us give their own Publishing House a trial? We can serve them as well as any house in the trade. We are always willing to send more than is ordered for the purpose of selection, if that is desired.

Sunday School Class Register, 1927. Price 4d. net. Now ready. It is equal to any other published at the same price. Why should our schools use any other?

Engagement Calendar, 1927 to June, 1928. - Suitable for Church Porch, Vestry or Minister's Study. Price 9d. Post free, ls.

Church and School Furniture. We can supply all re-quisites for church or school, such as Primary and Junior Chairs, individual Communion Services, Baptismal Fonts and Hymn Boards, etc. We should welcome in-quiries for any item of church furnishing. Price lists supplied.

Temperance Department. All requisites, adult and junior, Pledge Cards and Books supplied.

We appeal to our Church Stewards and Ministers not to forget to bring our Serials to the attention of the Congregations on Sunday, December 5th and 12th, as per " Pulpit Nctices " sent them.

U.M. Publishing House, HENRY HOOKS. London, E.C.4.

Ashville College. Appointment of Head Master.

AT a full meeting of the Governors, held in Leeds on Tuesday, November 23rd, Mr. J. T. Lancaster, B.A., Senior English Master at Leys School, Cambridge, was appointed Head Master of Ashville College.

To this appointment the Governors have, for several weeks, given most earnest consideration, and they have the utmost confidence in the selection which has at last been made. After a distinguished school career, Mr. Lancaster took an Honours Degree in English and French at London University, and later continued his studies at Christ's College, Cambridge. He has always been, and still is; a sportsman. At school he was Captain of Cricket and of Football ; at College he was a member of the Football XI. During the war Mr. Lan-caster played his part. He was in France in 1917-18. After being wounded in 1918 he was appointed Educa-tion Officer in Netley Hospital.

Mr. Lancaster has had eleven years' teaching experi-ence, seven of which have been spent in his present appointment. The Head MAster of the Leys says : "He has shown great interest in the boys, and in the all-round life of boys. He has convinced ideals for the foundation of character in his boys, and the government of a school in this, as in other respects, would be safe in his hands."

In writing with reference to Mr. Lancaster's preaching ability, the Rev. C. FI. Wright, of Cambridge, makes the following remarks : "Mt. Lancaster excels in this branch of Christian service. In a long list of such preachers drawn from town and University, no other preacher is so eagerly sought after. A man. of 'such a type is a distinct asset to such a school as Ashville, where, one imagines, the Head Master is largely respon-sible for the services. His matter, as well as his manner and methods, are all equally satisfactory."

The Gbvernors realise with satisfaction and with

DURING THE YEAR 876 SUCH CHILDREN HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN THE CHILDREN'S

HOME AND THERE IS STILL A

WAITING LIST OF 103 MORE

FOR WHOM WE MEAN TO FIND A HOME BEFORE CHRISTMAS

WILL . YOU LIGHT A

CHRISTMAS CANDLE I BY SENDING FIVE GUINEAS TO SECURE IMMEDIATE ADMISSION FOR " ONE OF

' THESE LITTLE ONES " ?

To the Rev. HENRY HOOKS, Treasurer, U.M. Auxiliary, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E. C.4.

National Children's Home & Orphanage (Founded by Dr. Stephenson) 29 Branches 4000 Children

Chief Offices: HIG H BURY PARK, LONDON,. N.5 Please LIGHT A CHRISTMAS CANDLE for me by taking a child into the Home from the Waiting List. I enclose Five Guineas, and should be glad to have some particulars of the child received.

Name

Address PrinciPal : REV. W. HODSON SMITH.

Treasurers : SirChas. C. Wakefield, Bart., C.B.E. Sir Thos. Barlow, Bart., M.D.. F.R.S.

. .1.11.1.11.$11.•■••...........41.49...11.1.....1114,1...1 . 01/.11/011.0.•,....1.11

gratitude that in making this 'appointment they have secured the services of a gentleman with high ideals and broad outlook. They are assured that to him the tradi-tion and tone of the school will be a sacred charge, and that its future development may be safely left to his guiding hand.

Mr. Lancaster will take up his duties at Ashville the beginning of next term.

"History of Norwich Methodism."

ON the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Chapel Field Road Church, the Rev. Robert Strong, M.A., B.Litt., lectured by request on the above subject. Mr. W. S. Daws, one of the foremost of Norwich Metho-dists, presided, and recalled the opening of the church, when the Rev. Jackson Wray preached, associated with the Rey. Jabez Percival and the Rev. Charles Ogden.

The lecturer invited his audience to. bring themselves out of 1926 to 1742, when James Wheatley began as a Methodist preacher and subsequently caused a stir in our ancient city, which was an extraordinarily lively place in those days. The Wesleys exercised their discipline on Wheatley because he had "wrought folly in Israel," and he was required to abstain both from preaching and practising physic. Wheatley nevertheless took to preach-ing in Norwich, first in the open air, and changed the notoriety of the people for vice and immorality to a spirit of seriousness commended by the newspapers and magis-trates. A temporary building was erected in imitation of George Whitefield's London Tabernacle. This excited riot and rage. Windows were broken and attempts made to saw away the 'supports. Wheatley was saved from drowning by the intervention of the Mayor. The mob increased to thousands, and cried out "Church and King ! Down with the meetings." That was Norwich in 1752. Then in 1754 the Wesleys came; and a great many people wanted to form a " Society." Of course, it is only recently we Methodist folk call our-selves a "Church.' Charles Wesley gathered them to-gether at five in the morning, and it is recorded, -" We spent some time together in conference, prayer and' praise." John was in no haste for a Society : "First let us see how the candidates live." • In the Colman col-lection there is a very interesting manuscript of a private diary of John Wesley, in which he had a little scheme to indicate the spiritual condition of the members of the Society ! George Whitefield, by the wish of Lau), Huntingdon, visited Norwich in 1755 and opened a new Tabernacle, and in 1758 Wheatley offered it to Wesley, who, however, was in no haste to accept, one of his objections being that "the congregation there will not hear me," but he managed to speak five or six times, The Lord's Supper was administered to nearly 200, and so solemn a season Wesley had never known in Norwich. "As a considerable part were dissenters I desired every-one to use what posture he judged. best. Had I re-quired them to kneel probably half would have sat. Now all but one kneelefi. down." ' John Wesley knew how to handle Norwich in that period. Another side-light : "I have seen no people in all England or Ireland so changeable as this. 1755 83 members, two years after 134. 1758 down to 110. In March, 1759, increased to .760. But nearly 500 of these first of all attended Wheatley, and having been scattered abroad, now ran together, they hardly knew why. Bullocks unaccus-tomed to the yoke, every man doing what was right in his own eyes." "The moon soon changed, so that in 1763 they shrank to 310, largely due to withdrawing the Sacrament, and now sunk to 174." Wesley's " Journal " gives about 50 references to his work in this city. To understand the 18th century nothing helps more than his "Journal." For the seventeenth century. read George Fox's "Journal," the eighteenth John.Wesley's, and the nineteenth John. Henry Newman's ". Apologia." Do not suppose Wesley's " Journal " to be a dry book. . There is wisdom throughout and plenty of history, good humour and, above all, the record of a man with astounding energy and power to make known the glory of God in his day. Whatever else we read we ought to know a good deal about John Wesley's " Journal.' -.His caustic refer-ences to Norwich were made in the 18th century, a very troublesome period ; but since John Wesley's day Nor-wich has had plenty of time to improve, and there is happily no need to explain 'away such sentences as ." I preached at the Tabernacle to a large, rude, noisy con-gregation. I took knowledge what manner of teachers they had been accustomed to, and determined to mend them or end them." " The most fickle and stubborn people, in the three kingdoms." Behind all that is the story of a Society with, many difficulties, but gradually developing some kind of stability and peace, and at last the serious business of building. The interesting church of Cherry Lane was opened by. John Wesley himself and when this became too small, 40 years after, Calvert Street was built, and the membership so increased that in another 15 years St.. Peter's Wesleyan Church Was built. Then there came into the story of Methodisin the period of disruption, and bitter things were said and done on both sides-a painful story, but it was not by acci-dent, and momentous things were involved. Methodism had something prophetical in the struggle that was going on, not only in this city and in the country, but in relation to the great European movement' and •the ideas of the French Revolution affecting the Continent and reflecting itself in this country. Now that the smoke haS passed away, and the thunder has died down, we can say that the real object is achieved in the realm of Church government, and we can stand up and say that our fathers were on the right side. One great contribution Norwich has made is the splendid way the circuit has tackled the work of evangelising the villages. The present is full of hope and encouragement, and in five years' time, when the jubilee of the Chapel Field Road Church is celebrated, may it be felt that the glory of the church is just beginning. J. E. P.

1

SERIAL PUBLICATIONS.

Junior and International Lessons.

THE JUNIOR QUARTERLY. Edited by Rev. FRANK JOHNSON. Provides Teaching Notes. Lesson Outlines, Supplemental Talks. etc. By ETHEL HuorctuNsoN. Special Articles on Departmental Work.

THE JUNIOR CONCISE GUIDE. By ERNEST H. HAYES. Study Notes for Teachers, Story Outlines for Scholars. Grading Hints, Introductory Talks, Orders for Worship Expression, etc.

Primary and Beginners' Lessons.

'I HE PRIMARY QUARTERLY. Edited by Rev. FRANK JOHNSON. Helps On the Beginners' Lessons by ELEANOR BRADBURN. etc.; and On the Primary Lrssons by JEAN HARTLEY and MABEL CLOUGH Articles on Primary Work.

THE PRIMARY CONCISE GUIDE. Edited by ERNEST H. HAYES. Helps on the Beginners' Lessons by WINIFRED BARNARD, and on the Primary Lessons by MARY ENTWISTLE. Adaptations for Beginners' Classes by JANET M. HUNTLEY.

Intermediate Course.

THE INTERMEDIATE QUARTERLY. Edited by Rev. FRANK JOHNSON. Full Lesson Helps, with Supplemental Talks and Orders of Worship, by ELSIE RonrNs. and Lesson Background Notes by ARTHUR H. ROBINS. Articles on Intermediate Work.

THE INTERMEDIATE CONCISE GUIDE. By ERNEST H. HAYES. Includes Study Notes for the Teacher. Outlines for the Scholar, and Talks. Hymns, Order of Service for the Super-intendent. Handy pocket size All the above Published Quarterly. Price 9d. net each,

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Send for a complete list of Lessons and Helps. Specimens of all (except Annual Volumes) will be gladly sent to any School on receipt of a Post Card.

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THE SENIOR QUARTERLY. Edited by Rev. FRANK JOHNSON. Lesson Notes and Articles on Senior Work.

Published Quarterly. 1/- net. (By post 1/1.)

December 2, 1926

THE UNITED METHODIST. 557

"Hello ! Stranger." IT will always be a difficult problem to all those who

are officials of a church to know how to deal with those strangers who attend our services from time to time. Silently they come among us, silently they pass from us, like "Ships in the Night," and then are seen no more.

A feeling does exist that strangers prefer to have their solitude respected. "They come," is the general sum-ming up, "to hear the sermon and to carry away with them an impression of the service. If it pleases them they will come again, if not, then they will find another ehurch." That may be so, but does.it apply to all cases?

The first question which should be answered is, "Why do they come? " Curiosity? No. " Because time hangs heavily upon their hands? " Well, yes ! perhaps a few. But the majority, that is our task. Why do the majority attend our church services? It is the in-born sense of " being with others." The loneliness of their lives compels them to seek fellowship. The solitary per-son feels within himself that he must hear his own voice, praying and singing with others. All this cannot be done in his own circle of friends. Home.life, very often, is not conducive to his spiritual development. To sing a hymn in his own house would seem strange. To pray —how absurd!

Yet there is a desire to worship and to worship among those of a like mind. It is the craving of the soul ; for the spirit of worship is the harmony of souls. No one likes to live alone, so the church service attracts him. His heart responds to the warmth of worship, and he experiences a satisfaction and happiness. There comes a keenness to speak of his new-found joy, but that is impossible. Self-created barriers of etiquette prevent advances. A stranger feels his position as a stranger, and awaits the opening from the regular attenders. It doesn't come: An icy-coldness has set in and service after service it becomes more pronounced. Their man-ners are frigid and austere. Both would be the better for each other's words, but "they pass on their way, not understood."

There are many changes taking place every week among our congregations. Visitors pass, and for a time their whereabouts are known, then they are lost. Yet amid new surroundings, a feeling which almost amounts to home-sickness overtakes these wanderers and uncon-sciously they seek for a church known to them of former days. A homely happiness is felt, and they await a wel-come and a few words kindly spoken. But they are left alone. Mechanically friends seeks friend, some detail of church work needs attention, so officers and workers meet for a few words, and the strangers are conscious they are strangers. They, too, pass on and are forgotten.

Pride and convention. These two false gods are silently worshipped, dulling our sense to the music of our own hearts, stilling within us the desire to listen to the songs of others.

Solitude and loneliness, these two pilgrims seeking companionship among those whose happiness should be in promoting the spirit of friendship, find themselves strangers in a strange land.

In Nature, the homing spirit predominates. "All things come home at eventide, Like birds who weary of their roaming."'

The love-hunger for Jesus Christ is in the heart of every man.. Cannot we see in their eyes the look of long-ing? They are coming home. Speak to them.

Just say, "Hello! Stranger." J. F. DUNSMORE.

"'Suasion or Force? • THERE are many good Christians who, knowing the havoc that is wrought in human affairs by strong drink, would, if the opportunity presented itself, make use of the legislative machinery to either restrict the supply of drink or abolish it altogether. We can, no doubt, under-stand their feelings. Being, perhaps, of an observant turn of mind, they have noted its effect upon domestic life, or upon the moral, spiritual and economic life of the nation. They have resolved that they would fight this great social evil with every weapon that they could com-mand. Few people will deny that drink is responsible for a great deal of human suffering, but many of them argue that we ought not to use any other weapon to fight this monster than that of moral 'suasion. We know that " the Trade " has penetrated political life ; we know that those who would be greatly affected if the consump-tion of liquor Were to diminish, have to some extent gained control of the legislative machinery, and are using what power they possess to safeguard their own interests. And realising this, many Christians are not prepared to make use of the weapon of moral 'suasion alone. They hold the opinion that even Parliament is one of the enemy's strongholds. This being the case we must (they argue) prepare to storm it. The question arises in the mind of the earnest Christian as to how far he ought to use force—legislative force, that is—to bring about an end which to him appears to be desirable. There are many who, believing that the end justifies the means, and holding the opinion that society would he better in every respect without drink, do not hesitate to say that we ought to aim at gaining control of the law-making machinery (by supporting, say, local optionists irre-spective of their political party) in order to grapple with this problem. Are we then, as Christians. moving away from a position that is traditionally Christian? Are we going to regard as obsolete the weapon of persuasion, or is it just that we are growing impatient, and believe that this ought to be supplemented by a weapon which may be used more effectively? Let us for a moment analyse the position. . There are two ways of inducing a person to refrain from doing that which he (for some reason or other) ought not to do. We can either use persuasion

. or we can use force. Let. us take persuasion first. Sup-pose that a person had a desire to take strong drink. We could bring quite a battery of arguments to bear upon

him. We could, for,instance, show that drinking led to a great wastage of economic effort ; that it undermined morality ; and that it led to domestic unhappiness. We might, by an appeal to both intellect and conscience, succeed in persuading him to refrain from drinking. This appealing to the moral sense, to the sense of duty, does appear to be the Christian way of doing things. If a person desires to act in a given way and we prevent him (in one way or another) from so doing, if he still cherishes the original desire, we have used force. It will be seen from that that force is used (in its various forms) more frequently and more effectively than many of us have allowed ourselves to believe. The particular kind of force in question is that which is exercised by the State, legislative force ; that which is summed up in the words "thou shalt," "thou shalt not," and buttressed by penal-ties and sanctions. Having to a very great extent failed to persuade people to refrain from drinking, we are (many of us) now preparing to take up the legislative weapon and use force. In dozens of other directions legal force is being used in order that social life may be made more orderly. Men are impelled : men are restrained. If this were not the case social life would indeed be chaotic. But how far are we Christians justi-fied in using legal force to bring about the results that it is difficult to achieve by moral 'suasion?

" PSYCHO."

Our Magazines. THERE is a peculiar satisfaction in writing that word

"our "—we are as proud of our magazines as a young mother is of her baby. There is something about these "monthlies " that is characteristic of United Methodism. We dare not define it too closely in the open, lest we be charged with being " Pecksniflian." But among our-selves it is an open secret. We like the look of our magazines ; we like the feel of them ; and most of all we like their contents. Each month the Editor of the " Magazine " proper, if we may so distinguish it, opens with an article of chaste and quiet distinction suffused with spiritual intensity. This month is no exception. We should like to call attention to every one of the con-tributors, for all have written w3rthily. But we arc drawn at once to the tribute so finely paid by Mr. Chat-terton to the late beloved head master of Ashville. We hardly knew how firmly Alfred Soothill had gripped us till what seems untimely death withdrew the beloved figure.

Then how fitting a thing it is that space should be given to that most generous and moving tribute paid to the Rev. J. E. Swallow by one who for so many years has been his colleague. The Rev. C. Stedeford writes with a pen driven by admiration and affection. We do not like to think of Mr. Swallow retiring from anywhere or anything. Mr. Cosson will take up the work, and do it well ; but Mr, Swallow had a place no one can His eye for the effective, his knowledge of both the signifi-cant and the detailed, his painstaking love for the periodical he edited, grew upon us every year. And now he lays down his work amid the affection of all his brethren. And they all will pray for him a long and lovely eventide.

But our object was to call attention to the "Maga-zine," and not discourse on Mr. Swallow. it is a tempta-tion, however, that there was no occasion too sternly to resist. All the other articles and stories must be read—the Rev. T. B. Davenport on "The Sign of the Babe "; " The Message of Winter," by the Rev. F. P. Argall ; the Rev. J. C. Pye on a theme no one is more competent to discuss ; an entirely beautiful little sketch of that missionary enthusiast, Mrs. Truscott Wood ; a sermon by the Rev. Charles Whiteley—these, and two stories—both admirable, with a charming page by the Rev. Harold Twyford on Mr. Cosson's book—are the chief contents of an excellent number. Of the "Mis-sionary Echo " it is sufficient to. say that the Editor takes a dignified and manly farewell, and speaks a good word for his successor. "A Wedding at Nairobi," and articles by Mr. H. S. Redfern, and the Rev. G. W. Sheppard, will be eagerly read, and greatly prized.

A READER.

The President at Worksop and Retford.

IT was the first time a President had been to Retford. A large congregation, including five Councillors, were present. Rev. H. James greatly helped the life of the church by his words on the text, "I will lift up mine eyes to the hills." Miss May Ostick was the organist. It was an impressive service, and the church, which has bravely held the fort for many years, was encouraged. In the evening at Worksop there was an eager congrega-tion which filled the building. The local paper gave nearly a column to a report of the service. Here are some of the stirring sentences : When a nation turns from God it loses the main source of its moral and spiritual energy. The nation must make just laws, and honour them. Unless the various classes of a nation played the game by one another, nations fell to pieces. An educated man may be only a rascal : education makes men clever, it does not make them good. You can only get moral force from a moral source. It is- impos-sible to raise a vigorous nation if the Divorce Court was crowded, or a sagacious Parliament if you have a be-fuddled people. The tendency of our present life is to get the minimum of God and worship and the maximum of self-indulgence and secular amusement. Honour the Lord's day and the Lord's house. Pin your faith to the living fountain. The anthem, "God so loved the world," and a solo by Mr. Haslam enriched the service. The "Nunc Dimittis " was the vesper, and the Benediction closed a wonderful season.

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558 THE UNITED METHODIST. becember 2, 1i26

DEAN Inge has defined Mysticism as " the attempt to realise the presence of the living God in the soul and in nature, or more generally as the.attempt to realise in thought and feeling the immanence of the temporal in the eternal and the eternal in the temporal." Then Mrs. Browning was a mystic of a high order, with her "dream and thought and feeling interwound stepping out grandly to the infinite."

The reverent reader of her sonnets is compelled to enter the same holy places that she trod, and the haunting couplets of such as "The Soul's Expression " and " Sub-stitution " lift the reader into the heights of spiritual longing.

"When some beloved voice that was to you Both sound and sweetness, faileth suddenly .

What music will undo That silence to your sense? . . . Not reason's subtle count. . . . Not songs of

poets . . . 'Nor the angels' sweet All Hails, . . .

Nay, none of these, Speak thou, availing Christ, and fill this pause."

Her noble conception of love, its timelessness and un-diminishable quality, found its undoubted genesis in her own great experience. Yet the play of all the forces of her nature upon this happy state, and chief of all her Unaided communion with the unseen, 'caused her to see the worthlessness of any feeling called " love " that was not as eternal as the God of Love Himself. "The great God changing not from everlasting, saith never, 1 loved once.'" By the blending of the physical with the spiritual, or rather the charging of sex-attraction at its highest with Father-Love in its tenderness, she was able to feel the height and depth and breadth of human love.

" Love strikes one hour—Cove. Those never loved, Who dream that they loved once."

Her poems are full of love, but it ,is not the poor imitation that served, and still serves in . even baser measure, the expression of many who give their poetic Philosophy to mankind. She was, less concerned with the out-reaching love of God to man, than she was of the up-stretching love of the human, through the human to God. There is a danger of confusing this representation of love with the desire of two souls seeking to find an end in their mutual satisfaction. It takes the mystic to relate such a satisfaction to the Love that is God, and an' inner sense of oneness with the Eternal through the blending of two souls, such as this of Mrs. Browning's showing, comes as the result of an untrammelled entry into the mind of God. In essence pure love is utter unselfishness, and surely this must receive the approval of God. Human affection is an earnest of the holy love that is revealed when. we enter eternity. Similarly Elizabeth Barrett Browning had arrived at the truth that the essence of all beauty is love.

In "A Drama of Exile " she gives utterance to this,

"The consummation to the inward sense, Of beauty apprehended from without, I still, call love. -So without love Is beauty undiscerned in man or. angel." •

When in One of her sonnets from the Portuguese she says, " I lived with visions for my company, instead of men and women," the human element is overshadowed by the felt presence of a deeper sense than that of the context. Stopford Brooke says that Robert and Elizabeth Browning, though differing at every point of their art, dug out, tested, and investigated all the foundations of faith and knowledge, and made an attempt to reconstruct them. Mrs. Browning constantly interwove the human emotions with spiritual feeling, and her explorations into the recesses of feeling revealed' to her the heart of a God whose compassionate regard could never be doubted. It was this, unfettered approach to the Infinite that grave her such .a keen understanding of the weaknesses of her own race.

The Christ of the poetess was not the ethereal, if such a term may be used, Jesus of some. He was a very real presence, One Who was touched with .a feeling of our infirmities, and Who, because He had passed our way; could listen to the pleading of His brethren withoUt the need of external mediation or aid.. In "The Meaning of the Look," she imagines the Saviour reproaching Peter with His own humble service among the disciples, but the understanding Lord is the forgiving Master, Why says,

"My voice, to God and angels, shall attest—Because I know this man, let him be clear."

The sympathetic God-man, never absent from weak flesh, was never dimmed to the mind of E. B. Browning. The philosophy of her husband, with his involved reasoning of the problems of faith and doubt, was absent in the wife. The gentle Nazarene met every need as it arose, to her, and His greatest beauty was His infinite pity 'born of His infinite understanding.

She claimed to "bePr calmly all the time this ever-lasting face-to-face with God" ; she prayed that Christ "might come tenderly, and stoop Himself to gather her life's rose, and smile away her mortal to Divine." The all-sufficiency of Christ is attested in "Consolation," "Daughter I- am. Can I suffice for Heaven, and not for earth ? "

She succeeded in 'realising in thought and feeling the immanence of the eternal in the temporal, and the tem-poral in the eternal. The presence of the living God in her soul gave her utterance, and her almost Divine value set on love marks her out as a member of that body of devoted women who have the power of immediate access to the mind of the Master.

And for me, when the earthiness of things begins to '

oppress me, I take down my little copy of her Sonnets and transport myself into an element of humanity filled with Infinite Sufficiency.

"Come on with me, come on with me ; And learn in coming. Let me free Thy spirit. into verity."

Another United Methodist Author.

We should like to call attention at once to a remark-. able book just published by one of our ministers. It is always gratifying to recognise the evidence of intellec-tual distinction in our ministry ; • and there is no ministry more wide-awake and sincerely ,devoted to the search and presentation of truths than our own. The Rev. Sydney G. Dimond, M.A. submitted a dissertation for his degree on " The Psychology . of the Methodist Re-vival." Now the Oxford University Press (Hum-phrey Milford) has published the treatise, with such revisions as the author has thought it ex-pedient to make. The price is half a guinea ; and there are few books better worth the money. We proposed at first to read the volume care-fully from cover to cover before, writing of it ; and there may be, those who will say that such is the only seemly. thing to do. But reading a book with a review as the objective may be a blow at one's self-respect. We like to read, and ponder, and return to a chapter ; we like even to drop the volume for a few days and then come back to it again. This is the luxury we promise our- selves with Mr. Dimond's volume. But such delay would be an injustice to the author. The very publishers are a guarantee of excellence. John Wesley is not even yet quite understood. And it is the psychological phase of the revival and the man that needs to be subjected to a searching scrutiny. But whoever attempts this task should be qualified by wide reading, exact knowledge, a cool and disciplined mind, and an experience of personal religion. And it is obvious in every page that Mr.. Dimond has these qualifications.

The Background. The introduction is masterly in its strength and re-

straint. What others have said is not accepted as inspired truth, even when supported by an illustrious name. We might indicate the kind of criticism to be found in the book by referring to the brief review of the "New Nancy School." It is known that-" suggestion " is the magic word in this connection. To think and to resolve are not favoured. But a theory which eliminates responsible conscious control is exposed by Mr. Dimond as having Contradictions within itself. " Concentrated attention in which the will must not intervene, is a psychological impossibility." Yes : that is clear enough ; and reminds us of the claim of the Roman Catholic Church, which requests of the neophyte an act of judgment that involves the final surrender of judgment itself. to an external and infallible authority. But Mr. Dimond further criticises the " sleepy rhythmic sug-gestion " theory : he says, "subconscious teleology is a contradiction in terms." Of course it is, for how could we have an *end in view, or cherish an ultimate purpose, if the resolve is to be sought in the region of the sub-cOnscious? These references, however, may give a misleading view of the contents of the book. It is not purely a treatise for the student of psychology. The introduction is simply the 1:•ckground ; and shows that the subject is not approached by a narrow and sen-timental mind. The factors involved in conversion, the place and function of the primary instincts; the group spirit ; Wesley's mind, and religious sentiments ; the relationships of doctrine and experience, are some of the subjects dealt with.

Wesley's Conversion. We shall further whet the appetites of United Metho-

dist readers if we give a glimpse of the way in which Mr. 'Dimond discusses the conversion of John Wesley. First of all, he reminds us of the classifications of con-version that have been adopted by the psychologists. For example, Pratt affects the " mainly emotional and the moral type's," James recognises the "healthy-minded" and the "sick man." Thouless divides converts into two groups, the adolescent, which involves the mystical ; and the adult, 'whose conversion is mainly " moral,in-tellectual or social." All of us have heard these distinc-tions adopted and reproduced as • a veritable creed. But the best way to measure their worth'is to bring alongside of them some well-known- person whose conversion is familiar and in all its details conspicuous. And no one serves better in this respect than John Wesley. Mr. Dimond shows that Wesley's conversion was emotional; but it had also a moral significance. Moreover, that it had a definite, intellectual content is seen in a complete change of ,doctrine, No one would be more instantly fixed upon as " healthy-minded," and yet at the same time the inner discord, conflict, and instantaneous change give him • a foremost place 'among the sick souls. He was an "extrovert " if you will ; but his ceaseless self- examinations show him to be also an " introvert." He was conservative, and yet in many respects his flexi-bility approached what looked like weakness. So' then the ways of the Spirit and the heart of men do not lend themselves easily to the deliminations of a compact and final classification. It is good to get back from the dry and confident psychologist and live among the great souls who so frequently confound our classifications, and upset attractivetheories.

Queries. We think that perhaps the least satisfactory chapter is

the one which deals with "The Mind of John Wesley." This is due in part to the unnatural and self-imposed limits of a psychological scheme. We are reminded of the "framework" of the Books of Kings. Mr. Dimond would have done better to have ignored Professor Wat-

Women's Missionary Auxiliary All items for this column to be sent to the Publication

Secretary, Mrs. 7. B. Brooks, 00 Southfield Road, Middlesbrough.

PRAYER TOPIC for the week beginning December 5th : The Evangel in Operation. Pages in Report, 67, 68. Rev. H. Truelove. Isa. lii. 7-15.

Sheffield, Sharrow Lane.—By a happy arrangement of our branch secretary (Mrs. J. Maclaurin), Nurse Raine addressed the W.M.A. Quarterly meeting on November 24th. Friends of other churches were invited, and an excellent company assembled. Mrs. L. P. Colley presided, welcoming the friends and .speaking of Nurse Raine's work at Chao Tong. An appropriate solo* was tastefully rendered by Mrs. A. Jinkinson. Nurse Raine began by expressing her pleasure in the opportunity of talking about her work—nurse's work—in China. Then she gave us a beautiful description of a week-end ,spent at Stone Gateway with the late Dr. Lilian 'Dingle. All who heard .will remember for a long time her graphic description of her first meeting with a leper ; how she loosened his ragged garments that Dr. Dingle might examine him ; how she bound up his diseased parts ; and the man's astonishment that anyone would:touch him—an outcast--in that close and familiar way. She told us of the founding of a leper settlement and of a natii7e preacher's readiness to serve his stricken fellows. When considering who could be placed in charge of the settle- ment, he said, "What about me? " Mrs. Bainbridge (District president) and Mrs. Maclaurin (Council presi-dent) expressed good wishes to Nurse Raine, praying for her a safe. journey out and abundant success in her new sphere. Tea was provided by Mrs. J. Rose, Mrs. D. Farrar and Miss Hilda Roberts. After which Nurse Raine again spoke. She referred to several Chinese women, whom she designated her "friends," helping us to realize the charm and beauty of their character, developed and ennobled by Christian teaching and influ-ence. We all felt it good to be listening to Vurse Rainc and were thankful for the privilege.

Stockport.—Members and friends of this branch as-sembled at Levenshulme Church on Monday afternoon, November 22nd, to hear the Rev. H. Parsons, of China, speak upon the dress and customs of China. Much interest was aroused by five ladies kindly consenting to wear Chinese costumes, which Mr. Parsons had brought to illustrate his address. The 'beautiful colourings of the materials used and the designs embroidered on the cos- tumes were most artistically and skilfully done and served to show the clever handiwork of a Chinese woman. We are sorry to hear that the practice of foot-binding is still found in the interior of China, so there is yet much work to be done to improve the conditions under which a Chinese woman lives. Mrs. Hartleyf of Ashbourne, pre- sided, and was supported by the president (Mrs. Lee). She expressed the great interest she had in the Stock-port branch. Although now living some distance from the town she has kept in touch with the activities of the branch and the churches by reading the " Missionary Echo*" and the UNITED METHODIST weekly. Rev. H. . Lee and Rev. A. Chadwick, who were present, took part in the meeting. Mrs. Gillbody sang two songs : the second, "The Task," was sweetly rendered and much appreciated. After the meeting tea was provided in the schoolroom by the ladies of '.Levenshulme and Welling-ton Road Churches. Everything;had been most thought-fully arranged for the comfort and refreshment of the guests, and the ladies were sincerely thanked for their kind hospitality.

Births, Marriages, Deaths. NOTICES of Births, Marriages, Deaths, etc., are inserted

at the uniform price of 28., unless they exceed 30 words, in which case ed. extra for every eight words or under is charged.' Notices, together with Remittances, should reach the office of the UNITED METHODIST, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C.4., not later than Tuesday 9 a.m.

REPORTS of Marriages, etc., intended for insertion in the Editorial . Colubans MUST be accompanied by a pref,aid advertisement.

BIRTHS.

DENHAM.—On October 26th, 1926, at Glen View, Chagford, to Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Denham (nee

Florrie Webber), the gift of a daughter.

WEBBER.—On November 25th, 1926, at Glen View, Chagford, to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Webber (of

Ingledene, Newquay), the gift of a daughter.

The Mysticism of Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

BY WILFRID H. BOURNE.

son's categories. To mention certain details. We won-der if too much is not often made of Wesley's " very wide reading." We think that there are hundreds of unknown undergraduates, who read as much in a month as Wes-ley can be proved to have read in a year. Wesley was indeed too busy, even in, his Oxford days, and too confident, to be a really great reader. In the same way we should question if Wesley had a " fine sense of humour." In fact, a good case could be made out to prove that he had only that incipient sense of humour which shows itself in a peculiar self-satisfaction at a mid-dling repartee, or such a retort as is eclipsed every day by the village barber. We have never been impressed with Wesley's humour. It may be that the absence of it was a source of strength, as in the case of Mr. Glad-stone, or, let us say, our own 'Dr. Townsend. Wesley makes one or two entries in his diary about " felling trees," but we should not be disposed to accept this as evidence of much "manual activity." Such entries are precarious as a basis. We knew an eminent surgeon who never boasted of a marvellous operation, but was inordinately proud of his ability to solder a Ford car. The fault of Mr, Dimond's book is his resolve to be psychologi-cal when he might have been human ; but it is a good book he has given us ; and we hope he will be en-couraged to write again.

In the Temple. BY REV. W. S. GREEN.

PRAYER Grant, 0 Heavenly Father, to our souls the peace that Thou alone canst give; that we amid the storms and troubles of this changeful life may ever rest in Thee. Give ,us by Thy Spirit to know that all things are in Thee, under Thy care, governed by Thy will, and guarded by Thy love. Help us that with a quiet heart we may see the storms, the clouds and the thick dark-ness secure in Thy protection, knowing that the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee. Guard us, govern us, guide us to the end that we come at last to our .haven with Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord.—Amen.

HYMN : " 0 Come to the Merciful Saviour Who Calls You."

: John iv. 35. " Lift up your eyes and look on the fields."

And there, was not very much to see in those fields however you looked at them. The Samaritans had not been very friendly or promising. There is just one woman, and obviously not of the most likely type, and the Master talks with her and forgets His meals..

The Boundless Optimism of Jesus.—He could see a harvest only awaiting the reaper. He can see the golden corn in November, He can hear the music of the harvest-home. He can believe it is worth while going on, though there are no visible results now, butt'He confi-dently says they are there for the taking.. That is the spirit which affirms that life is worth while, in spite of the superficial facts. Every man ,who wants to do some-thing in his day and generation acts on that. The pessimist is a man who talks and does little else. Did ever man do more in three years for the world than Jesus? Was ever man more hopeful of the world than esus?. And the facts of His day were not as inviting as

now. Political, social, economic wrongs are no modern invention. The economic and social conditions of our Lord's day were much worse than ours, and yet Jesus triumphahtly asserts the clay of better things is at hand. The man of action is always an optimist. [he pessimist judges men severely, loses faith in human goodness, and society shrinks into himself and does nothing.

So Jesus will despair of no man, not even the enemies —these Samaritans. The world must go on, the Spirit of God is the Spirit of recovery and salvation. In the work of recovery mark—

The Tolerance of Jesus with Ills Fellows.—We need to realise the shock of the disciples that their Master could even talk to a woman, and to such a woman ; yet Jesus counts it time well spent to preach one of His big sermons (is there one greater, even that on the to a disreputable woman. How often has the good work of good people been marred by their uncompromising attitude and intolerance towards those who combat and obstruct the ideal. Progress is not always in the way of. sacrifice to the thoughts and feelings of others, as our last missionary report so well proves. History shoWs that humanity has passed through its most difficult hours because of the sharpening of conflicts, when intolerance has ruled. Take heed that the light within thee be not darkness. Tolerance one of another will keep the con-testants in a sphere of better balance, serenity and justice. The struggle itself is rendered more humane, more reasonable ; assertions become more convincing ; reality is better understood and valued. Tolerance makes it easier to note our own errors. It is not condescending into evil, nor does it spring from a lessened love of truth ; it is and must he only with respect to the per-sonality of others ; it is and must be the spirit of Chris-tian charity and the sense of liberty. Preach the truth in the spirit of love.

The Master's Unceasing Labour to Gain the Ideal.--Not so much leisure as to eat. The needs of the body are secondary to the urge. of the spirit. There is no lack of harvest, it is only the worker that is lacking. Flow tamely we wait on one another. Let us have leaders. If only our leaders' meeting would lead and work for a whole year what a harvest there would be. White unto harvest—ready to be claimed for Jesus. The world claims them and .gets them and despoils them, we with the satisfaction of. their deepest needs to offer are diffi-dent. Ours for the claiming. In the Master's name bid them—the children baptised in our churches, the people married at our Communion, the relatives of those for whom we have said the last holy words, the children in our schools and at our firesides, the men and women who wistfully pass out from our services and would remain to the Lord's table if only the leaders would show them the way. White unto harvest ; yes, and they will come when our practice of our faith is more earnest and real. • There is a blessed word we used to hear, " Brought in."

I was brought in under So-and-so. Let us go back to • it. Bring them in—the harvest is white.

Unceasing labour—pray unceasingly. Do you remem-ber the story of the servant-girl who wanted to help with the harvest? She would take the obituary .column and pray for the bereaved, one by one, by .name. Pray for the church, for the district, for the world. So shall we be labourers with Hirn in the harvest field.

The Master will Accompany the LabOurer into the send you, I will not leave you, I come to you.

In the upward work of redeeinine the world the Master is by the side of the optimit t. He will not fail us—lo, all the days I am with you Ad I will never leave you nor forsake you. Not as the earthly craven king- who watched his armies defeated while he saved his carcase in the safe lodgment of the city wall, our King and leader. stands by us and will be with us till the battle is fought and the victory is won.

REV. JAMES HOPPER, of Abersychan, writes : Kindly acknowledge in " U.M.," receipt of 5s. from East- leigh Church Young People's Guild, for relief of miners. With heartiest thanks.

December 2, 1926 THE UNITED METHODIST. 559

To the Editor of THE UNITED METHODIST. DEAR SIR,—On a very dull afternoon last 'week I set out on my usual, round of visiting. I was strongly tempted to spend the afternoon in my study, for I said to myself that no one would expect me on a day like this. And I was encouraged to think this way by the experience of the day before. I could get no answer from three of the houses at which I called, and I was greeted with surprise at the fourth. I had taken care to put my card in the letter-boxes of the unresponsive houses—a very important matter this !—and at night I learned that in one case the lady of the house was having her afternoon nap at the time of my call. She was very nice about it, and said she was sorry to see me leaving the house just when she had aroused herself by my persistent knocking. She is a good soul, and would be the last woman in the world deliberately to perjure herself, but I could not help feeling that she was annoyed rather than pleased that I should have dis-turbed her. I know I should have been.

So why should I set out on this dismal afternoon, and more likely than not disturb other good Christian women at their rest? Besides, look at it ; look at the intolerable dreariness of the day. There's not a leaf on the trees I can see from my study window ; the recent gales have left them all looking terribly gaunt and woe-begone. And on looking out of my front door I notice that blinds are already drawn in several of the houses, as if the occupants are only too glad to forget that such a day as this could ever be. But an afternoon's visit-ing had been part of the day's plan, and so deciding to knock at each house only once, and that quietly, I started out.

.Not many yards from my door I met my friend Ponsley-Flippin. On asking him how he was he said that for some weeks now he had felt like a man trying to read small print by strong moonlight.

"What's the precise meaning of that remark, Flip? " I said. "On a day like this I don't expect any decent Christian man, such as I take you tube, to give utter-ance to unintelligibilities of that sort." Ponsley-Flippin said he was sorry for my lack of intelligence though he was not surprised ; but if I looked up Faber's "'Spiritual Conferences " on returning home my dull mind might possibly be enlightened. Bidding me good afternoon he passed on into the gloom.

The mention of "Spiritual Conferences " recalled the long-forgotten remark that Ponsley-Flippin had quoted, and I had not much difficulty on reaching home in tracing it. So after a cup of tea, I went into my study, and, lighting my gas fire, I read once more Faber's keen analysis, so searching and unsparing, of soul weariness. How true it all is : we are not conscious of having shifted our position ; there is no change in our outer cir-cuinstances ; nevertheless an imperceptible languor has been for some time creeping upon us. Prayer has become an effort ; the most sacred actions are de-generating into routine; we feel the immense importance of effort but have little heart to make it. We still have religious sentiments, but this is pretty nearly all the re-ligion we have; and we are succumbing, not to tempta-tions, not to ponderous crosses, but simply to a feeling of being tired. "A while ago, and all things were clear," says Faber. "Now we are like men trying to read small print by strong moonlight. There is light enough, but not the right kind of light."

There can be no question that Faber makes a very skilful diagnosis of the malady of soul fading, and his account of the causes of the trouble is equally direct and precise. As I. reached the end of his chapter on " Weariness in well-doing " I closed the book with the feeling that here was a malign spiritual influence, a personal devil probably, to be fought with gloves off, and no quarter given.

That same evening, after my day's work was done, I had occasion to call on a friend to seek his help in a project I have on hand. To be frank, it was a begging visit, one of those visits which are either' thoroughly enjoyable adventures or—well, not altogether pleasant experiences. To me they are. mostly the former, for though you may be unsuccessful in your object, you are generally cheered by some evidences of the love and patience and the fine spirit of facing up to life that there is in the world. I have sometimes been more blessed when I have come away without a line added to my sub-scription list than when some quite substantial addition has been made to it. It was so in this instance.

My friend is one of those business men who are pass-ing through very hard and testing times just now, and when he had told me how things were with him, and I had put my list back in my pocket, saying I was sorry

. that under the circumstances I had asked his help, he said, " My dear fellow, you have no need to be sorry ; in fact, I am glad you have asked me. It has never been a cross , for me to give. There has never been much sacrifice in it, if any at all. But that I cannot help you, and many others like you, is proving a wonderful ex-perience for me. I am having to carry a cross I never expected to carry, and I am finding, I really think for the time, what it is to be a disciple. I hope yOu will understand me when I say that I have never known more humility of heart than during the last twelve months. My experience is making me a better man, and, strange as it may seem to you, a happier. man."

I confess that this attitude rather astonished me, and

as I sat by his fireside I felt a strong admiration rise up within me at the way this hard-pressed man was taking the bitterness of his present lot.

As if he read my thoughts, he said, "You know better than I do, I am sure, what an insidious thing is self-pity. You are the second parson who has called to-night," he added with a laugh. "My own minister left only a quarter of an hour ago. If the neighbours saw you they would wonder what member of the house-hold was ill ! But I have been deeply interested in something my minister has been telling me."

My friend lives some four miles away from his church, but he is a very faithful member of it, an official, and is never absent from the morning and evening services.. It appears that one of his fellow-deacons has just re-signed, and it was this resignation which had been the subject of his minister's conversation. " He has resigned on account of his health," he said, " but to all appearance he looks healthy enough. Like most of us he is passing through difficult times, but I am afraid this plea of health won't hold. He has allowed himself to think that he has too much on hand ; in fact, he told me so the last time I met him. His remedy is to drop his church work, which is a disastrous mistake in my opinion. If his health is suffering I don't sec how he will get it back that way."

I told him something of what Faber says on the sub-ject, giving him the gist of the chapter 1 had read earlier in the evening ; and, after promising to lend him the book, we talked for a little time on other matters, until I felt it was time to turn my steps homeward.

It is strange how the plea of ill-health will often lead men to give up good work, and even to neglect those religious exercises which have a real beneficial' effect on health, both mental and bodily.. Of course health has to be considered, and we sometimes come to a .point when we have to give up for the work's sake, and for the duty we owe to others. And the passing years make their inexorable demands. But I am inclined to agree with Faber that we have to watch with exceeding jealousy against all worshipping of health. No other angel of darkness simulates an angel of light so well, says Faber. None can argue so well, or talk so reasonably, or so successfully feign the excellence of moderation and discretion. And I think Faber uses the language of highest wisdom when he says that it is safer, in cases of doubt, to decide against health rather than with it. One has seen so many good men give up old and long-established religious habits on this plea, permitting themselves to take things easy, and in the end lying down and sleeping when their salvation de-pended upon rousing themselves and pushing on.

IV. Of all the men in these modern days who steadily

refused to read small print by strong moonlight, finding the effort an intolerable weariness, Dr. Clifford is, I think, the most conspicuous example. He ended his long pastorate in his eightieth year, and Sir James Marchant says, "For his eager mind and sense of mission, emancipation proved to be but another name for work." On the day of his death, when he had just passed his, eighty-seventh year, he was still thinking ahead, still marching breast forward. Few of us are privileged to attain a reach of life as prolonged as this, and to spend it in such a manner, but of one thing I am resolved : not willingly to listen to. people who coun-sel softness : people who try to persuade you that you are doing too much. No truer word has ever been spoken than that one's work is one's life preserver.

Yours, etc., CHRISTOPHER HUNT.

Religion and Secularism.

PRESIDING at the annual meeting of the Christian Evi-dence Society, Lord Daryngton said : " It is a great honour,to he asked to come here, because I believe the society's work to be of the greatest importance at the present time. It is the duty of all of us to bring to the knowledge of all who call themselves Christians, the activities of this society.

" Large numbers of people want something, but they don't know exactly what. They would like to believe if they felt they had intellectual grounds for it. This society tries to provide that. There have recently been a series of articles in the Press by well-known people who testify to the beauty of Christianity, but do not be-lieve that Jesus Christ is divine. Those who do not state definitely that they believe in the divinity of Christ are leaving out something of enormous importance.

" Many in our own households are not sufficiently ex-plicit in regard to their reasons for their belief, though they try to serve our Saviour. Someone once said : The difference between morality and religion was that one was talent, and the other genius.' "

The Dean of Canterbury, speaking on " Religion and the Masses," said, " This is a burning subject in which many considerations !are involved. We can throw a little light on it if we substitute for the negative word irre-ligion,' the positive term ' secularism.' The view of life prevalent to-day is a secular view. In some cases, no doubt, that view 'has an intellectual basis, but though it may express itself, in an altruistic humanitarianism in a few lofty souls, in the generality of mankind, I am afraid, it expresses itself simply in the pursuit of gain, pleasure or ease.'-

Letters of Christopher Hunt. ON READING SMALL PRINT BY MOONLIGHT.

560

THE UNITED METHODIST:

December 2, 1928

Letters- to the Editor. [The Editorial Board does not hold itself responsible

for expressions of opinion by Correspondents. All con-tributions to these columns must, be brief.]

"R.P." and Rev. W. R. Smith on the Mining Crisis.

To the Editor of THE UNITED METHODIST. DEAR SIR,—The Rev. W. R. Smith in your last issue

asks, " What were the better terms the miners could have secured six months ago?" Frank Hodges, Secretary of the Miners' International Federation, had unintentionally answered the question on the previous evening in a provincial paper. " What have the miners lost?—In their general conditions they have lost :

"(1) Their National Agreement ;_ " (2 Their seven hours' day ; " (3 Their 1924 minimum, and " (4 Their National Federation as an effective wage

negotiating instrument. " In short, they have lost all the successes that they

have secured since 1912 . . . " In their family life they have lost their savings, and

in many cases their property. They owe money to the local shopkeepers, and have incurred heavy obligations to the Boards of Guardians. Where. their houses are rented, rent is in arrears of, over six months, which in itself would represent an average debt per family of not less than £4. The losses to the nation are incalculable . . . The workers of the country have lost £100,000,000 in wages, and the community has been deprived of over 130,000,000 tons of coal at a moment when it was essen-tial to have abundant supplies to build up our sick in-dustry . . . In other respects, the permanent damage to industry, and consequently to our standard of life, are beyond computation."

Mr. Frank Hodges, whose words I have quoted, is a man whose judgment should have weight with every thoughtful reader of the UNITED METHODIST.

A little reflection is needed to see the full significance of his statements. The value of the capital involved in the industry has been stated as •170,000,000. Mr. Run-ciman lately mentioned £135,000,000. For our present purpose we are safe in taking the larger figure. It will then be seen that in losing £100,000,000 in wages during the last six months the miners have lost as much money as, if invested in shares on the Coal Exchange, would have given them the control•of every existing coal mine, and would have enabled them to put into their own pockets not only the wages of labour, but the wages of capital also ! Of course, they would have needed to watch their opportunity to secure the shares when they were offering. But many mine-owners would have gladly facilitated the process. The late Lord Rhondda was accustomed to say, "Why don't you buy tne out and run the mines yourselves? You have plenty of money in your unions, and I am quite willing to sell, Of that willingness to sell evidence has been afforded by the Allerdale Coal Co., amongst others, during the last six months. ,They offered for twelve months to devote the whole proceeds of their trading, less costs other than wages, to the payment of wages." The.terms of their offer are before me as I write ; consideration for your space prevents me from quoting them in full. They were generous in the extreme. But the offer was unavailing. I repeat that if the miners have not been receiving both the wages of labour and the earnings of capital, the re-sponsibility has been their own. They have preferred to strike, and had they thrown £100,000,000 into the sea they would not more completely has wasted it, to their own impoverishment and the impoverishment of the nation.

In the presence of a situation like this your correspond-ent asks, "What were the better terms the miners could have secured six months ago? " And the miners' leader, whom Mr. Smith champions declares himself absolutely impenitent I

Your columns have borne abundant witness to the sympathy with which the miners have been regarded all the while that the strike has dragged out its weary length, and the country has been bleeding to death. But some-thing other than sympathy is demanded. The miners who read these pages and who form so valuable a. part_ of the membership of our churches should ask themselves if the strike as a method of settling industrial disputes has not had its day, to be superseded now by other and better because less wasteful methods of accomplishing the end in view. In particular, after,.,. spending £100,000,000 in fighting employers whether it.

-*ould not

be well to begin to accumulate funds for the,purpose of becoming employers themselves by purchasing shares in the concerns which give them bread?

It would need organization : but if the miners can organize to light employers, they can surely organize to buy them out, and become owners themselves. Why not? Yours,

ONLOOKER.

The Coal Dispute. To the Editor of THE UNITED 'METHODIST.

DEAR SIR,—I do not always agree with "R.IP." ; but does he deserve the severe castigation which Mr. Smith deals out to him ? I think not, whether we consider "R.P.'s " phrases or ideas.

To gather up the phrases scattered in an article, or . series of articles, and concentrate them in three lines,

is like asking us to swallow in one dose the medicine intended to last a week. I have often squirmed when reading a list of Mr. Cook's utterances in the "Daily Mail " ; for this heaping of phrases that have been gathered from a more or less wide period did not seem quite fair : but I suppose it must be, for Brother Smith adopts the same method. When one reads the said list of Mr. Cook's utterances they appear very ugly indeed: "I am a Bolshevist." "I am proud to be a follower of Lenin." "I want a revolution," "To hell with the Empire." " Do less work," etc. Whatever may he said of their beneficent effect over a protracted period, they

do not look very nice in, concentrated form. And yet Mr. Smith says " R.P." can "teach A.J.C.'

points on rhetoric " 1 I cannot help comparing the stinging-nettle with the scorpion.

I do not believe that " R.P." or any of our ministers desire a "degraded standard of living " for the miner or any other worker : nor is there a lack of sympathy. But there are many who must endorse "R.P.'s " claim that the miners have been wrongly led. Neither is it a case of being " wise after the event." It was obvious from the commencement of the struggle. A slogan is not necessarily statesmanship ; • and A.J.C.'s was far from it. Mr. J. H. Thomas, at Derby, told us that the T.U.C. definitely refused to sanction that slogan, and that it was used in spite of their refusal.

Mr. Smith is correct in saying that many miners view Mr. Cook with a regard almost amounting to hero-worship. He evidently has great persuasive' powers on the platform, is earnest, and, as the miners say, has stuck to his guns. Both sincerity and tenacity are quali-ties we all admire : but while admiring these qualities in the captain on the bridge, we want to be assured that he has also skill in navigation. In the minds of many—miners included—such skill has been -absent in the miners' leader.

iNow, Mr. Editor, I do not like the inference conveyed in Mr. Smith's letter that criticism of Mr. Cook is tabooed; that to critcise him is to show lack of sym-pathy with the miners ; and that we are' thus alienating the workers from the Church. I do not think the miners would respect a Church that observed a weather-cock policy. And neither has there been a one-sided criticism. Both the leaders of masters and men have been justly criticised. No one can admire the cold, supercilious conduct of the owners' leader. We want to be assured that the columns of your paper can be used to expreis convictions fearlessly.

Fenwick, JOHN CHINN. Park Avenue,

Ilkeston.

The "U.M." and Our Work. To the Editor of THE UNITED METHODIST.

DEAR SIR,—I suppose it is with papers as with services and sermons, one's enjoyment of them depends partly on oneself, though chiefly with the papers. Anyhow, I have so enjoyed this week's " U.M." that I want to say "Thank you."

It came just now (no, not this morning, though I'd be unashamed if it had and I had, immediately dropped the ,task I was about and read the "U.M." right through at once), and it has been a real blessing. There is something complementary and relevant about the articles, which, if taken at a sitting, have the effect of making us say " Yes, let us get on with our work."

Also thanks to someone, I suspect it was Rev. C. Pye, who sent Dr. G. H. Morrison's "The Turn of the Tide." It would be a memorable week for the Church, if, as the result of the "U.M." and "The Turn of the Tide,', we all said, "Let us get on with our work," for, to quote Dr. Morrison, " The time is coming, and is nearer than we think for, when the Church shall re-capture her authority, not by might, and not by power, but by My spirit, saith the Lord.' "

Let modernists cease to sneer at fundamentalists, and fundamentalists , to look askance at modernists. Let all who believe in God through Jesus Christ, unite in a deep and general expectancy, and, sooner than we dream of, the windows of heaven will be opened and the Evangel be with power again. Stressing our unities, and not our differences, our oneness in things that really matter ; - not hindering the times of heaven by antagon-isms, but hastening them by the love that thinks no evil, earlier than we dream the. places •where we assemble shall be swept as with the sound of the mighty rushing wind.

Put first things first—one of the burdens and tasks there is in life—and God, who is waiting to be gracious to our Church, to our beloved land and to the world, will solve our problems and redeem our weakness with the " bap-tism of power from on high."

Yours, etc., H. C. PUTT..

" I'm Tired, Mammy ! ! ! " This was the pathetic wail of a little five-year-old

girlie who was being dragged home by, her-mother after public-house closing hours one Saturday night recently in Nechells, one of Birmingham's most crowded districts. Of course, she was tired ! ' She ought to have been in bed hours ago. Your child was !

But the Mother had no Pity ! She struck the girl with an oath, and the child's cries became

more pitiful. "Can a woman's tender care

Cease towards the child she bare Yes, she may forgetful be ______,,

There are scores and hundreds of such women who in moments of forgetfulness, love their beer more than they love 'their children !

In such a neighbourhood, and in such an atmosphere, our

ROCKY LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH • with its band of devoted Christian men and 1)vomen of scanty leisure and still scantier means bravely carries on its Educative and Redemptive Mission.

Will You Help Us in our Mission of Pity ? To pay our way, we need £250 before the end -of the year.

Our premises are also in , urgent need of renovation.

Contributions towards our Bazaar on December 4, 6 and 7, will be welcomed by— _ .

Rev. F. L. BUXTON, 38 Havelock Road, Sahley. Birmingham; or Mr. . J. E. FREEMAN (Bazaar Treasurer), 101 Hillaries Road,

Gravelly Hill, Birmingham.

Departed Friends. Mr. Joseph Steward, Blackheath.

OUR Birmingham Road Church and Sunday School has lost a zealous worker in the death of Mr. Joseph , Steward, at the• age of '78 years. He always showed a keen interest in the Sunday School work, having been a teacher many years ; afterwards assistant superinten-dent and superintendent. In these offices he served about 38 years. He worked very energetically in the service of the church, the former part of which was given in the old church, of which he was a trustee, also in these later years. He was fully alive to the necessity of ealnest prayer and persistent work among the outside people as well as the various services of the church, in which he esteemed it a pleasure to be able to _take a part. After a long illness our brother , passed away on November 1st, with the satisfaction that Christ would be his all in all in that place which He had gone to pre-pare for all who loved and feared Him here and passed to nobler service.

A service was held in the church previous to the inter-ment on November 6th, in the Blackheath Cemetery, at which a large number of friends attended.

Mrs. Wm. Ainley, Blackpool. SPRINGFIELD ROAD Church, Blackpool, has lost one

of its 'oldest members in the passing of Mrs. Wm. Ainley, at the age .of 84 years. Coming from Elland some years ago, Mr: and Mrs. Ainley ,joined Springfield Road Church. She died within a fortnight of the 60th anni-versary of their wedding day. She was a woman of fine Christian character—of strong and beautiful faith. She passed through life doing her duty quite loyally as ,wife and mother. Their home life has been one of the happi-est. The real comradehip of husband and wife has been beautiful to behold. Steadily, but very quietly, the "earthly house " vas taken down, and after only one day in which she was compelled to remain in bed, she passed peacefully home to the Lord and Master whom she faith-fully served and so affectionately conversed about. The body was taken to Elland for interment, the minister\ of Bethesda, Rev. E. Cook, officiating. At a service on the following Sunday, Rev. G. W. Hall Wallis, spoke of the great qualities and silent, though powerful, ministry of Mrs. Ainley, and commended Mr. Wm. Ainley, now past his 86th year, to the prayerful sympathy of the members. Prayers were offered for him in his lonely experience.,

Mrs. W. F. Jackson, Sheffield. IT is with deep sorrow that we record the death of

Mrs. W. F.. Jackson, " Mount View," Sheffield, a loyal member and faithful supporter of our Nether Green Church. Mrs. Jackson, and her late beloved husband, Councillor Jackson, were associated with the Nether Green Church ever since its opening, and they exercised_ a manifold ministry in connection with it. Theirs also was a wider interest, in the whole United Methodist Church. Throughout this past summer and autumn, Mrs. Jackson suffered much in the grip of a fell disease, yet always revealing a spirit of quiet trust and child-like faith. She had a great wish to regain health for another lease of service for her Master in His Church. This was not to be. Even in the valley of the shadow, she feared no evil. After much pain; a time of peace ushered_ in her spirit's flight. Mrs. Jackson passed home on the 12th November, in her 72nd-year. The funeral took place on November 16th. SerVice was conducted at "Mount View," and in our Nether Green Church by Revs. R. J. Doidge and G. W. Potter. Rev. T. Scowby, an old friend of Mrs. Jackson's, spoke ,tenderly of the faith and service of Mrs. Jackson. The interment was at Fulwood Churchyard. A memorial service was held on the following Sunday at Nether Green, conducted by the Rev. R. J. Doidge.

A Kind Offer. MR. W. HARRISON, " Ivy Dene," Norden, Rochdale,

writes : "To Christian workers in the United Methodist , Church, who know of sick, aged, bereaved or lonely people. Through the kindness of friends, I am once more enabled to send a good useful book for Christmas if the names and full postal addresses of all such people, together with 6d. in stamps to cover postage and carri-age, are sent to me not later than December 14th."..

" Hearts Aflame." By' Rev. J. Woodside Robinson, B.A. (Messrs. H. R. Allenson, Ltd. 6s.) is the title of a series of short addresses and sermons on life, religion and literature. We have read most of these addresses with interest and profit. There is an element of fresh-ness in the treatment, so fresh indeed that we felt a little surprise and disappointment with the exposition on more than one Scripture portion. Nevertheless, the expo-sitions are helpful and suggestive. The texts chosen are, in the main, exceptional. These addresses do not ignore the painful experiences of life. "Leadings for God," "Pain of Reaction," "The Court of a King," " A Silent God,' "Transformation of Sorrow," are some of the titles. The book contains many gracious and uplifting messages, which are sure to be helpful.

Boys and girls everywhere welcome the " Boy's Own Annual '? . and the " Girl's Own .Annual," which haVe now been published by the Religious Tract Society for close on fifty years. They . have never been better than they are to-day. In paper, printing, binding and illus-trations they are a delight to the .eye,:itted they are full of .stories and articles on all kinds Of subjects in which boys and girls are interested... We cannot imagine - a More. --welcome gift than these - beautiful volumes (12s. 6c1.).

Adventuring-7,-Right and Wrong. GAMBLING.

BY REV. CUTHBERT ELLISON.

MATT. xxvi. 36-56. , (C.E. Topic for December 12th.)

ONE of the lines of defence of those who would justify gambling is to plead that it is the satisfaction of a deeply-rooted element in human nature—the love of adventure, of taking risks.

The love of the adventurous has to be reckoned with. It is in every healthy normal life. In young days it is seen in the demand for tales of adventure, and efforts to imitate in play the exploits of favourite heroes and heroines. But it is not peculiar to youth. It persists through maturer years, and often is found in full vigour in advanced age. Such an instinct will, of course, seek satisfaction, and appropriate and legitimate means are not lacking; nor far to seek. There is, however, as our topic reminds 'us, adventuring which is wrong as well as that which is right.

The love of adventure will lead to the taking of risks for the sake of the adventure. Often this is justifiable and indeed. admirable. The vigorous young life will seek for strenuous and dangerous enterprises, with no other end in view than the gratifying of the desire for excite-

' ment. Youth longs for "hair-breadth adventures, huge risks, and the .joy of eventful living." "The young English," wrote Emerson, " are fine animals, full of blood, and when they have no wars to breathe their riotous valours in, they seek for travels as dangerous as war diving into maelstroms, swimming Hellesponts, wading up the snowy Himmaleh, hunting lion, rhinoceros, elephant in South Africa, gipsying with Borrow in Spain, riding alligators in South America with Waterton, . . . peeping into craters on the equator." And such perilous excitements have their counterparts in our own times.

What relation has gambling to these. manly and strenuous activities? To speak of adventure in connec-tion with the doings of the gambler seems to me a sad misnomer. The risks he runs are of the pettiest. Of any real spirit of adventure he has not a spark. The gambler is not thinking of adventure ; he is playing for ease and safety.

But there are cases in which a man has no right to run risks and take chances. He has no right to risk what is not his own. Nor has he the right to endanger the life and -safety of others. Before a man takes the un-adventurous risk of "putting money on a horse," let him see that every proper claim upon his purse has been fully met. Where a man is contemplating the risky transac-tion by which he hopes to secure large gains for his own selfish enjoyment, let him ask what right he has to in-volve other people in loss and want. No one has the right to risk what is not his. No one has the right to hazard the peace and security of others. This is to be said of all forms of adventurous living. It needs the more to be said of every phase of betting and gambling.

Life itself is the great adventure. And the way of our pilgrimage is not so devoid of the exciting that we must turn aside to seek it in things that are selfish and hurtful For love's sake ; for truth's sake; for heaven's sake ; for God's sake, we must be prepared to adventure all. And if we are so prepared we shall find adventures chal-lenging us all along the road.

To advance human knowledge ; to extend the bounds of man's habitation ; to increase the delights of man-kind : these call for brave venturing into uncharted realms. The reformers, the explorers, the patient searchers into the secrets of nature, by whom darkness I and disease are overcome, and life made more secure and happy, find existence sufficiently exciting.

The Bible is a record of adventuring. Abraham heard a Voice saying, " Get thee out"; and he went out, not knowing wither he went. Paul saw a vision, and in obedience thereto set himself to the walking of the un-known way. It has been truly said that a man never goes so far as when he knows not where he is going.

In this, as in all things, Jesus in our great Exemplar, who took upon Himself the adventure of human life, and who in that life ventured all. And He has told us that whoso lightly holds his life for loVe's sake, and risks all for God, takes noble hazard.

Young People's Topic. Christmas Course. BY REV. BRUCE WHITE.

The Difference Christ has made. 1.—To Children.

SCRIPTURE READING : Matt. xix. 13-15.

(For Sunday, December 5th, 1926.) THE best thing that ever happened to this world was

not simply that Jesus Christ came, but that He came as a little child. Bethlehem was as necessary to man's salvation as Calvary was. Good Friday would mean less to adults if Christmas Day did not mean so much to children. By His coming to earth as a child, by His subjection to Mary and Joseph, as well as by His later teaching on the subject, Jesus for ever raised the status of children. Well might the children of Jerusalem greet Him with glad Hosannas. That song has never since. died away. All round the world to-day it is sung by the voices "of children who owe their happiness to Jesus ; and children sing it in Heaven. Christ's love for children and children's love for Christ are the gladdest things this earth has ever known.

Jesus "took a little child and set him in the midst." He made the child central. He taught that if human life is to preserve its balance it must circle round the

child. As the central sun holds together the vast solar system, so humanity is held together by the child in the midst. This was a new idea : no one had declared it before. It is a revolutionary idea which has not yet been fully accepted. It is a vitalising idea, the seed of humanity's highest life. The Saviour of the Children is the Saviour of the Race.

Jesus has put (lie Child in the midst of the Home. He regarded the family as the social unit. So doing I-le sanctified marriage. He constituted the home a temple. Wheresoever two or ibree (father, mother and child) arc gathered together in a home in Christ's Name, there in a very special sense He is, in the midst. When the child is in the midst then Christ is in the midst. The Christian home is a Christian Church.

Jesus has put the Child in thc midst of the Church. Never before had anyone dreamed of making the child central in religion. Most other religions exclude the child. Adolescence must be reached before religion has anything to say to him. Jesus says the cradle is a shrine. "This- shall be the sign : Ye shall find a babe. . . ." It is true that "Heaven lies about us in our infancy "; but it is -also true that Heaven lies before us in every infant. We owe that revelation to Jesus. The greatest triumph of Christ is not that men are to-day worshipping Him in every land under the snip: it is that there are

"Little children saying grace In every Christian kind of place."

Is there in all the world anything so touchingly beautiful as a little child at his mother's knee praying to Jesus? When Jesus said, "Let the little ones come unto Me," He opened the Kingdom of Heaven to every child. Well might Francis Thompson say, "Look for me in the nur-series of Heaven." They are nearest to the Throne. But only a Christian poet could have thought it.

Jesus has put the Child in the midst of Me State—not in so many words, but in effect. It has taken Christian nations many centuries to appreciate that fact, but they are at last waking up to it. In Christian countries a thousand agencies are at work in the in-terests of the child. Local authorities, national parlia-ments, commissions appointed by the League of Nations, are working on his behalf as never before. The world's wisest men are to-day bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh to the children, and Christ is saying, " Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least . . . ye did it unto Me." For Discussion.

1. How would you present the Christmas Message to a Primary Department child?,

2. Can a child seven years old be a Christian? 3. Read and discuss the Pastoral Letter on Junior

Church Membership in this year's " Minutes" of Con-ference, pages 298-299.

"What Jesus Taught about God."

(2) GOD'S FORGIVENESS. BY REV. HAROLD WILSON, M.A.

(International and Junior Lesson, Sunday, December 12th, 1926.)

SCRIPTURE : Luke xv. 11-32. FORNIULATING TEXT : 1 John i. 9.

Aim of Course.—To illustrate some of Jesus' thoughts of God, and so help scholars to right ideas of Him.

Aim of Lesson.—To show the readiness of the Father to forgive.

Suggested Books.—Glover's " Jesus of History." chaps. 5, 6; "Pictures of God " ("Teachers and Taught," 4d.).

Aids to Teachers. 11. "He said."—The parable is recorded by St. Luke

alone. Farrar calls it "The Gospel within the Gospel," but the whole Gospel is certainly not here. Nor is it really "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." Rather might it he called "The Story of the Forgiving Father "

—the, most beautiful story in "the 'most beautiful Book in the world."

1.2. "the portion."—The share of a "younger son was half that of an "elder son," i.e., .a third of the father's property. See Deuteronomy xxi. 17.

13. "gathered all together."—Turned estate into ready money. "riotous living."—Literally, "living ruinously."

14. "famine."—Not uncommon in Eastern land: 15. "joined himself."—Pressed his services upon an

employer who did not want more labourers at such a time. "to feed swine."--The lowest degradation of a Jew.

10. "husks."—The dried, horn-shaped pods of the carob-tree, known by us as "locusts," fed to cattle and pigs in the East. "no man gave."—A continuous tense, denoting a prolonged experience.

17. "came to himself."—A significant phrase. He had. been "beside himself." "hired servants."—Or "casual labourers " (Adeney). "I perish."—It was not a very lofty motive that started him homeward.

18. "against Heaven."—Synonymous with " against God."

20. "saw him."—Because he was still looking for him. "was moved with compassion."—A very vivid phrase in Greek. "ran."—Regardless of age, dignity, wrongs, and all else. "kissed him."—Passionately and often. So ready was he to forgive.

22. "the best robe."—Literally, " the first robe "—in quality, or, perhaps, the robe he used to wear, kept in

Shoes."— Marks of sonship, not of servitude. readiness for his return. "ring

24. "my son."—In spite of his folly. 25. "elder son."—Representing the Pharisees ; the

"younger son " the Publicans. "in the field."--Rather, "on the farm."

28. "angry."—An unfilial and unfraternal "intreated."—Literally "kept on beseeching."

29. "I never transgressed."—Self-righteous, even if true. "a kid."-L—To say nothing of a calf !

30. "this, thy son."—Not, " my brother." "with liar-lots."—A coarse and cruel suggestion.

31. "son."—Literally, "child," 'a tender word. The "elder son " is forgiven for his Pharisaism, as the " younger son " for his folly.

32. "it was mect."—Love justifies such lavish joy... "thy brother."—A gentle but firm re-affirmation of th0' prodigal's sonship.

Supplementary Tall: (before Story).—On Pharisees and Publicans.

Lesson Story (in outline).—Describe happy home-life of father and brothers. Tell how, as boys grew up, elder became proud and hard : younger, restless and dis-contented. Quiet life on farm did not satisfy latter. Longed for gay pleasures of city. As soon as came of age, claimed inheritance. (Explain Jewish law of in-heritance.) Ouickly turned it into, ready money ; left home ; travelled far. Found many to help him spend. Flung money about like a fool. What had taken his father years to earn, he wasted very soon. Crops scarce; food scarce ; famine came. Money gone ; "'friends " gone ; hungry. Tried to get work. At last almost forged himself. on farmer, who employed him as pig-keeper. Had so little to eat that envied swine dried carob-pods. (Describe.) Thought of comfort of home,. where even casual labourers got plenty of food. Made up mind to go back, and ask father to take him as one of these. Trudged all long way, ragged, footsore, famished. At last in sight of house. Father watching, saw him, ran, folded him in arms, kept on kissing him. Forgot everything in joy of son's return. Confession begun. Father Interrupted. Forgave all. Orders to slaves. Ring, etc. ; signs of sonship. "„Illy son." • Feast began. Elder son's return ; sounds of merriment ; question ; anger. Father's entreaty. Son's surliness and self-righteousness and hardness. Father's tender-ness—"Child"—"Thy brother." So ready was he to forgive both sons.

Lesson-Expression.—Write an account of the home-coming from the point of view of an old servant of the house.

Memory-Words (for Teacher).—Farm, Sons, Inherit-ance, Journey, Folly, Famine, Remorse, Return, For-giveness, Elder, Harshness, Father.

feeling.

DeCember 2, 1926 THE UNITED METHODIST. 561

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Evangelistic Services. Bursiem, Bethel (Cobridge).

"My sympathy has been invoked with the evangelistic services at the Providence United Methodist Church, Cobridge, conducted by the Rev. G. Jobling, of Shef-field, whose fervent discourses have aroused great en-thusiasm and scores of conversions have taken place." (" South Staffordshire Sentinel," Football Edition, November 20th.) A week's glorious mission has just been concluded, and to the call of God 248 (juniors and adults) have publicly responded. We have heard "My Jesus to know " (with the emphasis very decidedly on the " know "), " Oh ! the Lamb, the bleeding Larrib, ' " a pilgrim bound for glory "—and seen the children corn-ing to the Saviour, sweethearts together, the wife one night followed by the husband the next, and the newly-married. Some one night answering `they wanted time to think it over," joined the company of the redeemed the next evening ; they came from the choir gallery as well as the floor of the sanctuary. There has been the first public prayer, of the youth in the side-pew, as well as that of the maiden standing in the choir ; and the Junior Superintendent telling the school "he hasn't been himself this week, he's been walking on air "—and con-tinuing " the. wife and I were only saying last night what a blessing it would have been if there'd been such a mission just as we were married," and finally calling the whole school- "not to spend money in the shop at the corner " (it opens on Sundays) "and go ncl Sunday joy-rides in charries ' when summer comes."

But it has been no mission of excitement and shout-ing ; but of deep searching and spirit convicting, after weeks of prayer, bill distribution, invitation, open-air services, with choir and choir-master to lead the singing, and, above all (as one has remarked) we were ripe for a revival."

Last year arrangements were entered into for a mis-sion, but could not be consummated. We know now this was the "day of the Lord" and Brother Jobling " a man sent from God."

The 21st ended with a great dedication service, with the "Hallelujah Chorus " as the right climax.

"To God be the glory, Great things He hath done."

Now, your prayers please, so that these "babes in Christ " may be wisely led to wholehearted service in the vineyard of the Lord, an ever-deepening experience of redeeming grace, and a life fulfilling the purpose of God.

T. J. TRUSCOTT-CHAPMAN.

Plymouth, Ebrington Street (Colebrook). A MOST successful mission has been held at this

church, conducted by Mr. G. S. Westlake, of Newport (Mon.). A very deep spiritual awakening has • beer experienced among the members. The first few days sickness and inclement weather prevented a large num her from attending, but the meetings, which were pre-ceded by a prayer meeting, grew greatly in number and spiritual power, and great work was done among the young people, 22 of whom signed decision cards, and 12 adults openly confessing. A great time was experienced when a local preacher who had fallen away came out to the penitent rail with his wife and has made a fresh start. The mission was so full of promise it was de-cided to continue to the end of the second week. Rev. and Mrs. Leonard Westlake (Devonport) greatly assisted in making this possible. The missioner has gone from our midst, but a great blessing that our church has had from his visit will remain and go with us all in our ordinary church work.

Norwich (Costessey).—A successful ten days' mission came to a close on 'November 10th, which had been con-ducted by Sister Elsie. A strong Roman Catholic cause holds sway in this village which causes the people to be indifferent to the Gospel message, but they were stirred by the Sister's zeal and vigour, so that night after night large congregations attended. One notable feature of the. mission was the open-air meeting previous to the regular service. Some of the addresses will stand out in the memory of those who heard them for years to come. As the Sister pleaded during the first week for decisions it seemed useless, as no response was made, but the Holy Spirit was quietly working in our midst, for at the Saturday's evening's prayer-meeting several yoting people publicly confessed their allegiance to Jesus Christ ; on the following day others entered the inquiry-room and were pointed to Calvary by the Sister. But this is not the only important part of the mission, for some who had been nominally Christians are now ardent and zealous for service. The influence the Sister exerted on her, congregations was manifested at the faith tea on the closing day of the mission. The members thank. God for the Sister's visit, and are anxious to have a return visit as early as possible..

Somerton.--Evangelistic services have been held in three of the churches in this circuit, conducted by the deaconess, Sister Eva. Excellent services were held ; people attracted to the meetings. Some few of the elder scholars and adults were led to make their decision for Christ and the Church.

For the Miners.

Cheadle (Zion).—On Choir Sunday this church was favoured with a visit. from Rev. John Fleming (a former superintendent). The services were full of inspiration and- helpfulness. A special meeting was held in the afternoon, presided over by Dr. G. Saint. The choir ren-dered special anthems ; leader, Mr. Bramwell Shaw. '

THE UNITED METHODISM

News of Our Churches. MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS.

'Orchard, J. L., cordially invited by the Northlew and Okehampton Circuit to reconsider his decision to leave feels, however, that he must remove in 1927.

Christian Venture Campaign. Stanley.—Under the auspices of the Young People's

Department of the above circuit a very successful and happy conclusion was' arrived at in our South Moor Church on Saturday night. The occasion was the clinching together of the course .of studies which the young people had made during the past few weeks in connection with the "Christian Venture Campaign." Mr. Wilson Horswill (secretary of the department) pre-. sided over a large representation of the various churches of the circuit. A very helpful, instructive, address was delivered by Mr. Lance Pope, of Pelton, on "God's Pur-poses in Human Life," followed by a brief outline of our "Resources in God," by Mr. W. Pope, of South Moor. Miss E. Robson, of Annfield Plain, then gave a short discourse' on the motto of the campaign, "Come, Learn, Go." Suitable hymns were sung at intervals, and the proceedings finished with an obligatory service by the young people, when about 60 dedicated themselves to a year of useful work in the various departments of church life. Altogether, we are very hopeful for the future of our church if such meetings were more frequent, because the impressions received at Saturday's gathering will not be 'forgotten by those who were there.

Anniversaries. Exeter (Queen Street).—The anniversary services were

held on November 21st. Special preacher, Rev. W. J. Redmore, of Westcliff-on-Sea. Mr. Redmore, who had charge of the church until he went to Westcliff some eleven years ago, was warmly welcomed back by his old friends. There were large congregations, and his ser-vices were greatly appreciated. At the annual' supper, which followed the Monday evening service, over one hundred persons sat down, and a most enjoyable time was spent. The supper was the gift of Mr, and Mrs. W. R. Brealy, for the benefit of the trust funds. The sum of was raised.

Huddersfield (High Street).—The choir anniversary was held on November 21st Preachers, Revs. Bryan H. Reed and F. H. Chambers (pastor). In the afternoon a very fine rendering of the. English version of Dvorak's "Stabat Mater" was given by an augmented choir of 70 to 80 persons to a very large congregation, -tinder the con-ductorship of Dr. T. E. Pearson ; principals, Madame Ethel Davison, Miss Mabel Whiteley, Mr. D. R. Oxley and Mr. Harold Sykes (choirmaster), Nit-. Frank Dodsor (organist). At the evening' service Mr. D. R. Oxley gave the solo, " My Hope is in the Everlasting," which was followed by the anthem, "Awake, thou that Sleepest." There were good congregations at all the services.

North Shields (Willington Quay).—The sixtieth church anniversary was held on November 21st,' conducted by Rev. A. E. Fletcher, a former minister. Mr. Fletcher also visited the recently graded Sunday Schools and addressed ,the Brotherhood in the afternoon and con-ducted a homely social hour after the evening service. All the services were well attended. The annual concert provided by the church choir was held on November 24th, under, the chairmanship of Mr. Joseph Hunt, of Felling, a former member of the church. The choral numbers were much appreciated, as also were the solos of Madame Maggie Clavering, Mr. R. Young and Mr. H. Brodie, and the dramatic recitals of Madame Florence Richardson.

December 2, 1926

Stockport (Edgeley Park).-Foreign Mission anniver-sary services were held November 21st. Preachers, Revs. T. J. Cox and H. E. Hamblin. Splendid congre-gations. In the afternoon Mr. George Gee presided over a fine gathering, -at which Rev. H. Parsons, of Stone Gateway,. gave the address. Mission awards for juvenile collectors were autographed by him in English and Chinese, and will therefore be cherished more by . the recipients. Donations 10s. 3d., offerings

8s. 3d., and juveniles' boxes 13s. 9d., helped to make an increase of 4.5 on last year. Missionary income of this school-chapel has increased sixfold in three years' time.

Wallsend (Carville).—The 25th anniversary of the Women's Own was celebrated on November 21st, con-ducted by Rev. W. H. Jeffries, M.C., to good congrega-tions. At the evening service solos were rendered by Miss Elsie Ames (an old scholar). The meeting on the Monday afternoon was addressed by Mr. Simpson, of Heaton, followed by the annual tea and meeting, pre-sided over by Rev. W. H.. Jeffries. The soloist was Miss Rachel Baty. The annual report, read by the secretary, Mrs. Hinchcliffe, showed the W.O. to be a real live institution, caring alike for the social side of its members as well as the religious side. The speaker was Sister Jessie. Mrs. Donald, one of the oldest mem-bers, conducted the roll call. The W.O. was inaugu-rated by the Rev. F. W. Steward,, who was then the resident minister at Carville, and several of the women appointed to the committee are still actively engaged in the work.

Bazaars. Barrow-in-Furness (Christ Church).—On November

17th, 18th and 20th, a fairyland bazaar was held on behalf of church funds. On the first day the bazaar was opened by Mrs. K. Macdonald Cameron, 'and the chairman was Mr. K. Macdonald Cameron. Their pres-nce was greatly appreciated by the friends. They are

members of our Burbank Church, West Hartlepool. Mr. Cameron is a Parliamentary candidate for 'Barrow at the next election. On the second day, Mrs. Francis Hutchinson.opened, and the chair was taken by Council-lor Mrs. Kemp Lee. On the third day, a group of Sun-day School children opened, and presented the charm-ing exercise, " A Bunch of Keys." The chairman was an old member, Mr. W. Hatton. There were good attend.' ances at each opening, especially' on the children's day, when the- schoolroom was full. The schoolroom was charmingly decorated, and there were many willing workers. The proceeds were just over £200 which was regarded as very satisfactory considering the severe in-dustrial depression through which the town has passed in recent years.

Bath (Beechen Cliff).—A bazaar was held on Novem-ber 24th and 25th to raise £200 for various needs, and was opened.by the Mayoress (Madame Sarah Grand) and Mrs. Wootton (wife of the head master of Kingswood Wesley's School). Mr. Douglas Hatt, J.P., and Dr. Scott Reid presided. A large number of clergy and min-isters took part in the proceedings, supported by Rev. Philip Madge and others. Bouquets were presented by Violet Madge, Harold Chivers, Gordon and Harold Horne. Sympathetic reference was made at the absence of Revs. A. Leach and W. H. S. Snow, Mrs. S. Hallett and Mrs. Swain, on account of illness. Songs were ren-dered. by Miss Nelly Barham and Mr. Leslie Doe,' and the church and male voice choirs gave concerts during the evenings, when Mr. H. Harding was the accom-panist. At the close, the Rev.' Philip Madge announced the magnificent total of £271—an excess of over the desired sum. He expressed warm thanks for the wonderful heartiness of all the friends. Sympathetic reference. was made to the death of Mr. A. Martyn, an old worker in the church, whose funeral was held on the Wednesday.

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THE UNITED METHODIST. 568

Birmingham (Unett Street).—A very successful floral 'bazaar was held November 17th, 18th and 20th. Mr. Herbert Goodall, of Halifax, was the opener for the first -day, the chair being taken by Mr. Harry Hall, of Soli-hull.. The second day was opened by Miss Willetts, of Preston, Mr. W. S. Tandy presiding. On the third day, Mrs. E. Withers presided, and Miss E. Rogers, of our Villa Road Church, together with a number of our Sun-

-day School scholars, who had been excellently trained by Sister Nellie, made the final opening. The scholars' purses realized £5. The. artistic decorations were very beautiful, thanks to Mr. A. S. Allen and Miss Winnie and Master Wallace Hill. In spite of the inclemency of the weather, good numbers attended each day, and a very happy time was spent. Proceeds £200, in aid of. church funds.

Darlington (Victoria Road).—A sale of work was held on November 24th, when the opener was his Worship the Mayor of Darlihgton, Councillor J. G. Snaith. The chair was taken by the church and circuit treasurer, Mr. M. Curry. The soloist was Miss Minnie Allinson. Vic- toria Road is endeavouring to clear off its debt, and last March our effort realized £235 towards this end. The -present sale of work is, therefore, the second effort this year, the object being to clear off goods left over from March. The amount raised was £95, 'a figure which -exceeded all expectations. £330 has thus been raised by special efforts this year.

London (Harold Wood).—The church held its first sale of work in aid of the new church building fund on November 20th in the War Memorial Hall, Harold Wood. A large company of-interested friends was present. Mr. E. Bryant, J.P., presided, supported by Mrs. Bryant, Revs. J. Shrubb, E. Cato, and others. Mrs. Harkness, who had to open the sale, was in Paris, and could not return in time to discharge that duty, so in her absence Miss Cave- declared the sale open. At the close of the -day the treasurer, Mr. J. P. Mallinson, announced the proceeds to be just over £180, but various sums are still -coming,, and it is expected that the total amount will be . 200. Mr. W. W. Stock, church steward, expressed appreciation of the services rendered so cheerfully by everybody in making the sale a success.

Worksop (Potter Street).—Despite the depressing in-dustrial conditions, we held our bazaar, and achieved success. Mr. G. Turner presided. Mr. G. Kenning, J.P., C.C. (Clay Cross) gave a vital speech which heart-ened the workers. Mr. H.‘ A. Pierrepont's statement showed that in our anxiety for trust debt reduction we needed help on current account. Thanks were ex-

•-pressed by. Rev. W. S. Green and Mr. G. E. Cottingham. Miss D. Moore was the soloist. The result-85—ex- ceeded our fears, and we go forward with hope. A ser-vice of thanksgiving was held on Sunday.

Missionary Services. Dalton-in-Furness.—On November 14th the annual

Foreign Missionary services were held. Preachers, Rev. J. A. Noon and Mr. J. Brown. In the afternoon Mr. Noon gave an address on "China " to the scholars, teachers and friends. The missionary meeting' on the following Tuesday evening was addressed by Mr. P. H. Cornthwaite, who presided, -and • Rev. J. A. Noon. Satisfactory offertories were taken for our foreign missions.

Exeter (Providence).—The' Rev. J. Ford Reed was the preacher at Providence on Missionary Sunday, with good congregations and inspiring sermons. On Monday Councillor E. Bradley presided over the annual meeting, and excellent addresses were given by the Rev. J. F. Hughes and Mr. J. L. Brock. At the close refreshments were provided by Councillor and Mrs. W. E. Southard. At Crediton the preacher was Rev. J. F. Hughes, and the meeting on Tuesday was presided over by Mrs. W. J. Badcock, and the speakers were Mrs. Hardy and the deputation. The services at Silverton were conducted by the Deaconess, and the meeting on Wednesday was addressed by the Revs. J. F. Hughes and F. Sparrow. The chair was taken by Councillor W. E. Southard. This has 'been a fine series of meetings in every way, and we were splendidly served by speakers and chairmen. Proceeds well ahead of last year.

General. Birmingham (Rocky Lane).=On- Sunday evening the

augmented choir gave a fine musical rendering, "A day with our Lord." The various members of the choir gave the solos, duets and quartettes in a most efficient manner. Mr. Bert White was the conductor, and Mr. H. W. White, organist. Rev. Fred L. Buxton offi-ciated. After this service the monthly pleasant hour was held in the schoolroom, and refreshments provided.

Birmingham (Washwood Heath).—The operatic society recently performed a Japanese light opera, "0 Ham San " on four. evenings. Nearly forty players took part, and about 1,100 people attended. More. than '40 net was realized for the church funds. The authors of the music and the libretto respectively were present, and con-gratulated the performers on their effort.

Leicester.—A circuit Young People's Demonstration was held in the Hill Street Church on November 20th. In the afternoon there was a conference, when the speaker was the Rev. J. Hodgson, of Mansfield, whose subject was "Worship in the Sunday School." The chairman was Pastor Herbert J. Argall. At the evening meeting' Rev. J. Hodgson was the speaker and Mr. Rowland Hill occupied the chair in place of Air. A.. W. Palethorpe, -who was out of town owing to family sick-ness. There was special singing by the scholars. There was a tea between the afternoon and evening meetings, when a large number sat down. The whole of the meet-ings were of a high tone and appreciated.

Mansfleld.—Rev. Alfred Bromley, a former superin-tendent, has paid a return visit, and has been received with enthusiasm. After preaching on the Sunday he gave a Shakespearean lecture-recital' on "King Lear," in the town hall. Over £33 was raised during the week-end.

St.. Coliumb (Nanpean).—On November 24th, Rev. Ira J. Townsend delivered his popular lecture on " Handel : The Man and His Music." The choir rendered solos and choruses from "The Messiah." Organist, Miss E. Yelland; choirmaster, Air. W. A.•Yelland. Mr. E. Knight presided. Mr. Townsend, with his usual ability, held the congregation spellbound The service through-out was inspiring and, uplifting.

Sunderland (South Durham Street Mission).—The Mission was favoured last week-end with a visit from Rev. pr. E. Griffith Jones, Principal of Yorkshire Con- gational College, Bradford. An exceptionally good morning congregation heard a most inspiring sermon, based on Matt: xix. 20, 'dealing with the necessity of overcoming every obstacle that stands in the way of a full and complete Christian life. The Men's Meeting anniversary occupied the afternoon. A gathering of over 250 men was presided over by the Sheriff of Newcastle ('Mr. Dalgleish). Dr. Griffith Jones addressed the meet-ing, and Mr. John Watson was the soloist. In the even-ing a lar,.ce'congregation gathered to hear Dr. Jones, who preached on "The Prodigal Son and the Benevolent Father." On Monday evening a brotherhood rally was held, Councillor Wm. Priestley in the chair: The church was packed, and a mast intent hearing was given to a very fine address by Dr. Griffith Jones. Mr. Thos. Race, president of the South Durham, Street Men's Meeting, conducted a roll call of societies. It is not too much to say that the visit of Dr. Griffith Jones will exert a great influence on the spiritual life of the mission, and everyone is the richer for having heard his great mes-sages, splendidly delivered.

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- Service for the

Renewal of the Covenant AND

Reception of New Members are asked to apply direct to Mrs. Capey, " Rannioor,"

Beech Grove, Whitley Bay, Northumberland.

8s. 6d. per 100.

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, OUR ALMANACK

. - for 1927.

With Coloured Illustrations and Portraits of the President and Conference Secretary. Specially prepared for circulation in our churches and in the homes of our people.

FEATURES INCLUDE: The President's Motto for the year and many items of Connexional interest. The Days of the Year artistically arranged, with the Phases of the Moon.

BIBLE READINGS FOR THE HOME: A selected portion of Scripture, suitable for family worship, morning and evening. .

ORDER EARLY Price THREE HALFPENCE each, or 1/4 per dbz.

(Postage extra),

100 COPIES, 10/- note (Carriage- Mid).

1..- Terms for localising on application.

. United Methodist Pocket Diary and Calendar, 1927.

Specially useful for Ministers and Church Officials. • Containing Calendar of Connexional Committees,

space for each 'day in the year to record Engagements, Baptisms, Class Meetings, Collections for Con- nexional Funds, Visitation List, Notes for Plan for Church Meetings, Book Accounts. 2s. 9d. net.

Engagement Calendar, 1927 to June, 1928. Suitable for Church Porch, Vestry or Minister's

Study. Price 9d. Post free, Is.

London: HENRY FIOOKS,12FarringdonAvenue,E.C.4

LONDON CHURCH EXTENSION & MISSION COMMITTEE LONDON'S LEAGUE OF WOMEN.

WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU WILL JOIN US. 1.—IIELP YOUR OWN CHURCH. 2.—HELP THE WEAKER CHURCHES. 3.—INDUCE YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN.•

We shall be pleased to welcome any ladles coming from the provincial Churches. Apply for information to Mrs. II.W. Molt, Pembury, Heybridge Basin. Essex

"The Common Bush, 11

1

The "MONTHLY VISITOR" Wel Good

me for Localising

co Household Friend. November : "JOY." December: "The Hand of God." 1 /3 per 100 and postage.

(lst 103 Id.: 100 6d.. &c.). Please write to R. HENDERSON SMITH. Sec., 68 Hanover St., Edinburgh. COMMUNION

FRANK WRIGHT MUNDY & CO.'S

PURE COMMUNION WINES

ARE THE ORIGINAL UNFERMENTED WINES.

First -made and introduced NEARLY 70 YEARS AGO. They have been sold continuously ever

since, and are NOW USED in

MANY THOUSANDS OF CHURCHES

of Various Denominations; GUARANTEED GENUINE GRAPE • JUICE UNDILUTED AND FREE FROM ALCOHOL

Prepared so as to remain good after being opened. SMALL SAMPLES FREE OF CHARGE TO MINISTERS AND CHURCH OFFICERS.

DescriPtive Price List and name of Local Agent free on a¢Plication to

FRANIMRIGHTMUNDY&CO. 27; Merton Rd., Kendnitoe, tondos, W.S.

The United Methodist Magazine.

/ CONTENTS POR DECEMBER.

EDITORIAL. All eyes on Bethlshem.l AT THE SIGN OP THE BABE.

A Christmas Message. By Rev. T. B. Davenport.

A CHRISTMAS STORY. . Christmas Cheer. By Sybil Haddock.

OUR ROYAL PRIESTHOOD. Rev. J. E. Swallow (Portrait). Mrs. Truscott Wood (Portrait).

THE MESSAGE OP WINTER. ' By Rev. F. P. Argall. A NOTABLE HEAD MASTER.

The late Rev. Allred Soothiil, M.A. ONE YEAR AT ZION. Serial Story.' •

XII.—A White Christmas. By Rev. W. H. Saturley.

THE MINISTER- OP TO-DAY AMONG HIS PEOPLE. By Rev. J. C. Pya.

OUR PULPIT. Rev. Charles Whitney. RUSTING PROM THEIR LABOURS.

Mr. Prank B. Barnett (Portrait). Mr. P. W. Ward, Basford (Portrait).

BOOKS OP TO-DAY. THE LEGION-OP VENTURERS. nay Rev. H. V. Capsey.

PRICE FOURPENCE.

The Missionary Echo, CONTENTS POR DECEMBER.

WEDDING AT NAIROBI. WEDDING AT PEITAIHO, NORTH? CHINA. THE SECRETARY'S NOTES. Rev. C. Stedeford. THE CHINESE AND THE:SCHOOLS.

Mr. H. S. Redfern. WITH CHRIST IN CHINA AT CHRISTMAS.

Miss S. Gertrude Ford. MISSIONARY INTERCESSION. "THE MASTER'S MANDATE."

Rev. G. Jobling. SYSTEMATIC TolL FOR MISSIONS. INDEPENDENCE IN CHINA.—II.

Rev. G. W. Sheppard. THE UNBELIEVING WORLD.

Frederick William Faber. THE EDITOR'S; FAREWELL. J.E.S. " HIS NAME SHALL BE—."

Miss L. E. May Syson. BOOKLAND. OUR WOMEN'S AUXILIARY.

Serving in homely ways. TITLE. 1926.

PRICE TWOPENOE. Of all Ministers and Secretaries.

"Your friends have greatly admired your faithful, quiet, and able continuance in well-doing."

—Mrs, W. E. SOOTHILL.

You can make them

STRONG (SPECTACLES

WITHOUT OPERATION or

MEDICINE. If your Eyes arc affected you need our Book on

Eyes," describing a harmless method by which you can strengthen the eyes and restore the vision with-out operation or the aid of drugs or glasses. It is in the nature of a gentle massage which stimulates the action of the blood in the eye arteries, with the result that natural sight is restored, and the eyes become painlessly and surely moulded to perfect shape. By this means near-sight, far-sight, astigmatism, and other defects arc corrected and cured. You can dis-card your glasses and counteract headache and eye strain by five minutes' manipulation daily in your own home.

See Nature with naked ayes —not through glass windows.

A 1/- BOOK on the 1' Eyes" FREE. This book Is published at Is., but its contents are of

such vital importance to all sufferers from eye defects that we have decided to give away 30,000 copies at cost. If you would like one, send your name and address with 3d. (abroad, 6 foreign) stamps for expenses.

NEU-VITA (Dept. V.11), 22-78, Central Buildings, London Bridge.

LONDON, S.E.1. Eng.

Suitable for• Missions. Helpful for Visitation %irk

and Publicity. Guido Reni's Great Picture to

" ECCE HOMO"-Behold the Man. Printed on Art Paper, 30 by 20, with space at the top for localization. Price 6d. each. Posted in tube 3d. extra, 100 copies, £1 17s. 6d. • 500 copies, S8, carriage paid. Also supplied in Postcard size, suitable for hand distri-bution-100. 2s. 6d. ; 500, 103. ; 1000, 18s. Postage extra.

Holman Hunt's Famous Picture: " THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD."

Posteard size only, for hand distribution-100, 2s. 6d.,; 500, 12s. ; 1000. 20s. Postage extra.

Specimen Cards post free.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS REGISTER

FOR 1927. Price 4e. per doz. net ; carriage extra.

Why should not all our Schools use our own Class Register ?

It Is equal to any other published, and at the came price.

METHODIST NEW CONNEXION SECTION (THII METHODIST HYMN NOOK) •

Mae of Book, Ed by 32 inches ; 14welo Hsieh. Bias of Book. 64 by 3 Sakes; 11-iossis N.C. 115-Cloth - 4 0 N.C. 116-Cloth - 4 9 N.C. 111-Frenoh Morocco. gilt edges

-. 6 6

Mies of Book, 641 by 4i &ekes ; 11-hook N.C. 121-Cloth - - 4 0 N.C. 123-Roan ... 6 0 N.C- 126-Paste grain. gilt T 6

Elise of Book. 71 by 511 bir itseheg. N.C. 129-Cloth, red edges 0

6 N.C. 131-Rutland Morocco, gilt 12 I

I 6 WITH TUNES. STAFF NOTATION. Size of Book, 81 by 54 inches ; 11-inch thick.

3 0 N.C. 133-Cloth 7 4 6 N.C. 133a-" FOR Use or Cam " 0

6 0 N.C. 136-Paste grain. gilt - 12 0

BIBLE CHRISTIAN SECTION.

N.C. 101-Cloth -. 0 N.C. 101a-.. FOR VISITORS"

I

N.C. 102-Cloth. gilt - I' N.C. 103-French Morocco - 3 N.C. 107-Figured Persian. gilt

0

Elise of Book. 6 by 44 inches ; 11.4rook thigh N.C. 108-Cloth .- N.C. 108a-" FOR VISITORS N.C. 109-Cloth ... N.C. 110-French. Morocco N.C. 111-French Morocco. padded

TUNE BOOK. STAIN NOTATION. T.I: Cloth. cad edges ... 6 I

SOL-FA NOTATION. T.S.I. Cloth... 6 0

METHODIST FREE CHURCH SECTION

luxe of Book. 6 by 4 inches ; i4osek. Okiek Bite of Bookilibe 6iiinokee. If-ittols thick,

s. d. e. d. A. 1-Cloth 0 H. 2-Persian Morocco, gilt edges ... 11 0 A. 1 -French-Morocoo ... 3 0 H. 3-Turkey Morocco. gilt edges 25 0 H. 4-Levant Morocco. red under gold

edges _- 30 0 - WITH TUNES. STAFF NOTATION ONLY.

With Abbeadirc of old Methodist roam

Bias of Book, II by 6 inches ; 111-inch thick. H.T. 1-Cloth B H.T. 3-Paste grail'. gilt ■■• 13 H.T. 4-Morocco. red under gilt

edges ... 16 6

INDIA PIM RDITIOS H.T. i-Cloth. red edges - 11 0 H.T. 6-Paste grain, gilt-.. ... 16 0 H.T. 6-Morocco, red under go-ld 18 0

564

CHURCH FURNITURE. ORO. N. HAMMER & CO., LTD., CROWN WORKS, BT. IAMBI' RD.,. BERWONDIRY, LONDON, ILE. 1S.

Memorials, Fittings for Sahoois, Sts.

HOE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, PLYMOUTH (Established 1867).

Principal : G. P. DYMOND, M.A.. Load. Vice-Principal : F. J. DYMOND. B.Sc.. A.I.C.

lull Staff, of Graduate. 'Icel.!. red & Certificated leachers Successes Include :

University Scholarship and Entrance Examinations. Army and Navy Cadetships. London Matriculation and School Certificate Exams. Medical, Law, Pharmaceutical and Dental Exams. Chartered. Accountants' and Bankers' Institute,

and Architects' Exams. Ivory Accommodation for Boarders. Highest Testi-

monials. Premises recently extended. Football, Cricket, Tennis and Hockey Grounds.

Sale Open-Sea Bathing in Summer.

PREACHERS FOR DEC. 5th. LONDON.

Nome Hill, LE. (Railton Road) - 11 a.m., W. Hall ; 6.30 p.m.. A. E, J. Cosson.

Battersea Park (Battersea Part Rend)-10 am.. Sunday School ; T p.m.. W. S. Littlewood.

Clapham Junction (Idallinson Road) - U a.m.. R. W. Gair ; 6.30 p.m., R. W. Gair.

. South Lambeth' (Fentiman Road, near Oval- Stationl-11 a.m.. F. Barrett ; 6.30 p.m.. F. Barrett.

Stockwell (Paradise Road) - 11 a.m.. A. C. George ; 6.30 p.m., A. C. George.

Fulham. S.W.6 (Walham Grove) - 11 a.m.. B. W. Hird ; 6.30 p.m., J. T. Perry Oliver.

West Kensington. North End Road (Betbel)- 11' a.m., J. T. Perry Oliver ; 6.30 p.m.. Mr. Tremblett. •

Newington-Brunswick (Great Dover Street)-11 A. W. Edwards ; 6.30 p.m., J. Payne.

"Manor" (Galleywall Road, Bermondsey). (any No. 1 bus from Charing Cross or Waterloo to Galleywall Road)-11 a.m., H. Bolitho ; 6.30 p.m., H. Bolitho.

MEMORIALS.

MEMORIAL BRASSES OF FIRST QUALITY FROM £4. SEND WORDING FOR SPECIAL

DESIGN OR ASK FOR BOOK 41 (FREE). F. OSBORNE & CO., LTD.. 27 EASTCASTLE STREET. LONDON. W.1. ACTUAL MAKERS.

MEMORIAL BRASSES FOR CHURCHES SIMPLE DESIGNS FROM E. SEND IN-

SCRIPTION FOR FULL-SIZE SKETCH. ILLUS-TRATED BOOKLET OF CHURCH FURNITURE RTC.. POST FREE. MAILE & SON. LTD., CRAFTSMEN. 246 GREAT PORTLAND STREET. LONDON. W.1.

MISCELLANEOUS. AZAARS.-If you are holding a Sale, we can help

you without risk ; also special sample parcels sent.-Write for full particulars, U.M. Kelly. Balgores Lane. Gidea Park, Essex.

BASKETS FOR BAZAARS.-Devonshire rustic and colou r baskets, always popular, unequalled

variety. Carriage paid. Illustrated price lists free from original makers. Blackwell & Son. 20 Cross Street, Barnstaple.

J PAGE ilita) KT ABOUT T2dHERBS sod AND D oH e0 W

TRIMNELL, The Herbalist, 144 Itchmond Road. Cardiff. Established 1879.

ANTI-RHEUMAT1C WOOL CORSETS, no pres-sure. Invaluable to sufferers from Rheumatism,

Heart troubles, Indigestion. Unbreakable Boneless Corsets, Coutil. 8/11 ; Flannel, 13/11.-Knitted Corset Co., Nottingham. List free.

BOOK Your LANTERN SLIDES NOW for XMAS and NEW YEAR. also complete programmes for

Gospel, Temperance and other meetings.-Moseley. 224 Stanley Road. Wakefield.

XMAS CARDS.-Send 4/- for packet of 75 Smart Patterns. Sell id. to 6d. each Value 9/6. As-

sorted 4d.. Eid„ 114, 21-. 2/6, 3/6 doz. Calendars 8d.. 1/4 doz.-Andrews. 37 Cursitor St. London, E.C.4. MOYS I Toys ! Novelties ! Well assorted. Sample 60

2/6, 144 5/-, post free.-E. W. Golton's Teiy Works, John's Terrace. Cross, Road. East Croydon.

CHINA FROM WORKS. - Tea-sets. 4/11 ; ' Home Outfits, 32/6 : Badged ware, etc. ; keenest prices

Clubs, Cafes, Schools. Bazaars. Merchants. Catalogue ree. Satisfaction guaranteed. - Liverpool Pottery,

Burslem.

MICE 1-One nibble of BATTLE'S Vermin Killer means certain death. Packets 5d.. 9d. and 1/3.

Your own Chemist will supply it.

JOHN DUXBU RY'S ELOCUTION SCHOOL. Voice Production and Expression. Public

Speaking, Reciting and Singing. Private Lessons only. Tel. Museum 2386.

Apply : SECRETARY, 41 WOBURN SQUARE, LONDON, W.C.1.

Sias of Book, 62 by 44 inches ;1-401406 Ma. • C. 1-Cloth 6 C. la-Lettered " FOR USE OF VISITORS" 1 9 C. 1-Morocco cloth 3 0- C. 3-Green Rexine. Including name

of Church. etc. (Not lesa than six copies) 4 •

C. 4-French Morocco ... 4 0 C. 6-paste grain. limp gilt - •-• 4 6 C. S-Paste grain, limp. round corners 6 0 Iliac of Book, GI by 41 bathes ; 111 falai Stick. F. 1-Cloth - F. 2-Morocco cloth F. 4-French Morocco. boards... - F. 6-French Morocco. limp - F. 6-French Morocco. boards, gilt F. 7-French Morocco. limp. gilt - 6 B F. 1-Paste grain, limp, gill 6

Ellen of Book. Ti by 6 hookas ; le4osek G. 1-Strong Morocco sloth II G. 9-French Morocco. gilt 11 0 G. 3-Persian Morocco. gilt ...

-

14 6 G. 4-Turkey Morocco. gilt _.

-

18

Sias of Book, 62 by 3f inches ; 4.4osoh B.C. 1-Cloth ... 1 0 B.C, la-" FOR USE OF VISITORS"_. 1 6 B.C. 1-French Morocco-. 9 B.C. .3-French Morocco, gilt - 3 0

• B.C. 4-French Morocco, monogram... 3 3 B.C. 6-Paste grain. gilt... ._ 4 0 B.C. 6-Persian Calf, gilt - 4 I his of Book. 64 by 4f &Mos Cittek Mak.

B.C. 9-Cloth - - 2 6 B.C. 9a-" FOR Use OF VISITORS"' 3 0 B.C. 10-French Morocco ... -... 4

TANA TALES •

Ono of our Ministers writes :- " I consider Tana Tales ' ranks easily with

Tight Corners in China.' I can bestow no higher praise upon the volume."

Price 2/6 net. illustrated.

" BILLY BRAY." The Rev. MARK GUY PEARS; in a recent issue of the Methodist Recorder. on ' Some Local Preachers Down West," refers to the Life of Billy Bray, by F. W. Bourne, and expresses the fear that this book is now out of print. It is still on sale, and its world-wide popularity is unprecedented. Bound in cloth, of all booksellers, for 1I11. or post free for 1/9.

Primo 2/6 net.

M 14 ip 7:z Ist INIMIVIOR I ES

By the Rev, WM. VIVIAN, F.R.G.S. With 10 Plate. of Illustrations.

"Just as Pollard and Dymond gave us the vision of the Miao, so Mr. Vivian has given to our Church the

. vision of a redeemed Mendiland." -

INDIVIDUAL COMMUNION CUPS,_, OUTFITS-Avoid the Danger of Wootton-Dept. U.

MEMORIAL TABLETS, in Brass and Bronze-Dept. na.

Write for FREE ILLUSTRATED LISTS as T lq ECM DT It 23 Ltd.,

Ernest Street, Birmingham.

SHEBBEAlt COLLEGE, N. DEVON.

Headmaster : Mr. J. ROUNSEFELL. M.A.. B.Sc. (Load I

An Ideal School for Boys. In the heart of the Country. :5 Own Fenn

Eons 48 and 51 guineas per annela. ' Abbly for Prospectus to

The Bursar. Rev. J. FORD REED.

HARR.OGATE,' ASHVILLE COLLEGE.

FOR BOARDERS ONLY;

Finest Situation. Thorough Equipineni. University Stall. • •

Prospectus from the Head Master.

c1M=MINNISDIM■

Edgehill Girls' College, BIDEFORD, N. BEM.

HEAD hits:rams : Miss E. CUTHBERTSON HILL. B.A (Hons.Lond.)

Beautiful sltnatlob, :: Laces playing fields. Own Farm. :: Folly qualified stag.

Per Prospectus, apply to Iliad ,distress, or Roy. W. Titi3FIPRY, Bursar,

Cutworth, Bideford.

HOTELS, HYDROS' BOARD RESIDENCES, and

PRIVATE APARTMENTS.

BLACKPOOL tefPILLING,

as rutram Avenue, N

Public; and Private Apartments.

BLACKPOOL-Misses Maley. 10 Crystal Road. ■ S.S. Apartments, near Water.

loo Station and sea. U.M.

BOURNEMOUTH (Oaklands, on West Cliff)- Board-Residence from 551-

Close Sea and Gardens. Separate Tables. Excellent Cuisine. Gas-fires bedrooms.-S, KEAN.

PRESTATYN, N. WALES -Bracing. e low rain-

fall. hills and sea -- Misses Mellor, "Werneth." Victoria Avenue. U.M.

SOUTHPORT (MATLOCK HOUSE, 60 Bath Street)-Apartments (public and

Private) ; near Prom. Lord Street, churches. Methodist home ; highly recommended by ministers ; piano ; Bath Invalids specially studied ; moderate terms. Stamp. Mrs. Hall.

ST ANNES.Ia vate t mrts rtt_ eesidenoe overlooking Ashton Gardens. and one minute pier; electric light.- Mrs. Robinshaw, Bel-Air." 16 North Drive.

TORQUAY-Seascape Private' Hotel, only one e commanding full, perfect, wonderful

view magnificent Torbay, Due south, every bit winter sunshine. Garden, private park. central everywhere. Close Rock Walk. Royal Gardens. Comfort„ ,cooking-studied. Central beating. Convenient garage. Hard tennis court. Tariff.-Harrison.

RECITALS, etc. ,

TO Ensure a Pleasant Evening's Entertainment, book WILL HEYWORTH. Humorous and Dramatia

Recitals from Shakespeare. Dickens, and other writers. -Terms. dates, etc„ address Will Heyworth, Elocu-tionist, 4 Prospect Terrace, Stacksteads, Manchester.

SITUATIONS VACANT. . ORUIT GARDENER for Australia, under Nowlin*.

tion of Methodist Brotherhood ; regular work for experienced man, also for son ; near City ; assisted passages for family.-Particulars to Methodist Brother. hood, 1 Central Buildings, Westminster, S.W.1.

SITUATION- WANTED.

YOUNG Lady seeks position as Housekeeper to gent., or small family ; trustworthy; capable ; good

references.-E. Plunkett. Rostron Road. Ramsbottom.

BOOKS.

2 OOO BOOKS from Minister's Library to clear. cheap ; many less than fifth published

price. Lis: free.-Rev. Davies. 141 Ware road. Hertford.

HOUSE FOR _SALE.

MODERN HOUSE (nicely decorated), 295 Seeley Road, Streatham Road, S.W.17, containing three

bedrooms, two reception rooms. tiled bathroom, kit-chenette. and outhouse ; good garden ; price. including electric light and gas fittings, lino, &c., £800 or near offer ; ground rent £5 5s.-Apply Mrs. Collins, 67 Gay-

.ville Road, Wandsworth Common, S.W.11.

CATALOGUE of Church and School Hymn Books and other publications issued by the United Methodist Publishing House free on aPPlication to HENRY HOOKS, 12 Farringdon Avenue; E.C.4.

THE UNITED NIETHODIST. December 2 1926

When ordering-Quote LETTERS & NUMBERS ONLY.

United Methodist Church Hymnals

B.C. 11-French Morocco. gilt 4 6 B.C. 12-French Morocco, monogram 6 6 B.C. 13-Paste grain. 5 B.C. 16-Morocco ... 7 6 Mae o/ Book, 6 by 32 imams; Minsk flask.

B.C. 17-Cloth 4. 0 • B.C. 18-French Morocco - 6 0 B.C. 19-French Morocco. gilt 6 6 B.C. 20-Persian Calf. gilt 9 6 - Site of Book. 134 br 6 &ekes ; llaMek thick. B.C. 18-Morocco. gilt 16 6 B.C. 30-Morocco. gilt ... 19 6

London : HENRY HOOKS, Pelted lis16edis1 Publishing House, 12 Farriniden Amos, E.0.4

HENRY HOOKS, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C.4.

Cbildrep's Exercises suitable for .13,. B. ANNIVERSARIES AND CHURCH FESTIVALS

are " The Victorious Cross " (1d.) ; " Suffer the Little Children " (2d.) ; " Gathering of the Nations " (3d.) ; " The Bridge of Hope " (2d.) ; " Building the Church " (2d.) ; " The Golden Door " (2d.) ; " Pyramid of Life " (2d.) ; " Harvest Gleaner." (1d.) ; " The Seven Lamps " (2d.) ; " Help from the Little People," for Bazaar opening (2d.) ; " The End of the .Rainbow," by Rev. A. G. Simpson, F.R.A.I. (2d.) ; " The Shining Beacon," a Service of Song, by W. S. Green (2d.)

' "The

Bridge Beautiful," a Floral Service of Song, by W. S. Green (2d.) ;. "The Ladder of Life "-Demonstration arranged for 36 scholars, by Rev. F. Sparrow (2d.) ; " God's Golden Girdle of Light and Love," a Floral Service of Song for Elder Scholars and Children, by W. S. Green -(2d. Specimens of the whole series for le. post free.

INDIVIDUAL COMMUNION

SERVICES.

Apply for new Illustrated Catalogue.

HENRY HOOKS, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C.4.

FOR/EST GLILTEI CX.TiCTJIT'.. Feted Ilata-Ratherine Road _. Corner of Romford Road... .... _. Rev. A. R. BARNES

, -Field Road ... Near Forest Gate .. ate Station... - _. Rev. JAS. ELLIS Ilijiabn'Town-Shirley Sine-. Bottom of Ratbbone Street

... .Rev. J. B. CLVIN

Plaistow-Harold Road... ... Near Plaistow Station .- .... Rev. P. ROWS .. iderd-Ilford Lane , ... ... South of Ilford Station -

_. Rev. J. H. JANES, 11.A., LL.B.,

Rev. W. J. WARREN lirays-Sow Road ... ... Enquire at Grays Station... ... A.D. Mum Perk-Romlord Road _ Near Manor Park Broadway ...._ _. Rev. W. E. KIRBY Last Nam-Nigh Street, N. ... Right of East Ham Station - _. Rev. T. R. CLARKE • WeelletiMen-Sea._ .- -. Leigh Road (nr.. corner of Argyll Road) Rev,. W. J. RUMOR.

Chaikwell Park, Eastwood Lane .- Rev. B. D. BRBB gm;:g Kim _ _ .... Right of Seven Kings Station - _. Rev. R. • KW ay eloWel Southend -- _. _ - Woodgrange Drive, Southend -. Rev. J. BODEN

Service mammon at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Visitors Will reoetwo a heavOy sonsssuss

UNITED METHODIST • PUBLISHING HOUSE,

12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C.4.

3 4 0 6. 0 6 0 6 6

Printed at Tlx MAGNET PRESS, 188 Rye Lane, Peckham, S.E., and Published by HENRY HOOKS, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C., kw the UNrrED MZTEODIST Cinotcs, Thursday, December 2nd, 1926.