bers 9, 18, and 25, led astray through drink, now dead, spirits gone to render up their accounts. Two of the twenty-five, viz., Nos. 3 and 12, met with accidental deaths. Thirteen are dead. Some appear to have died well. Of others, nothing is known respecting their end. Nos. 2, 11, 19, 24 left the country; nothing now known about them. Numbers 13, 20, 21, still living. Whether they have bright or clouded prospects I know not.

Should any of my readers find out the village of Keilah in some part of her majesty's dominions, they might see actively employed in a most important and benevolent office, a hearty, hale old man, of robust and portly build, standing five feet ten inches high. This fine old man was the little boy whose name was entered Nov. 6th, 1808, in the first Sunday school formed in that village sixty years since. And we may all read in the history of our friend what may be done if a boy is diligent, punctual, and persevering. He may carry off the highest prizes here; and should he reach three score years and fifteen, he may have a glorious prospect of eternal felicity hereafter, which, I am happy to say, cheers the declining days of EDWIN, one of the twenty-five boys enrolled in the first Sunday school formed SIXTY YEARS SINCE in the charming village of Keilah.

THE ADAMIC CREATION. UNDER the head of "Vulgar Errors," we find in "Biblical Notes and Queries" what we cannot but deem an error indeed from the pen of-perhaps-a learned contributor, who says; "There is no single word in Hebrew (any more than in Greek, Latin, or English) that expresses the idea of 'creation from nothing;' that can only be done by a phrase or combination of words.' His aim is to make out that the first verse of the Bible does not express creation, but only the framing of what previously existed; and that this is established by the latest conclusions of Geology and Philology in the nineteenth century." Now all this we utterly deny. Leaving Latin and Greek out of the question, what other word do we want in English in addition to the word create, to express the production of something by an exercise of almighty power, where before there was nothing? And is not the noun Creator applied distinctively to God as the only being possessing that power? As for the Hebrew word Bara, in Gen. i. 1, whatever other meaning it may have, it unquestionably has this: "to produce something from nothing." A Jewish lexicographer adduces as examples, Gen. i. 1, 21, 27; Num. xvi. 30; Is. xlv. 7; and Jer. xxxi. 22. Parkhurst argues, in reference to the word in Gen. i. 1, "This cannot relate to form, because, as it follows in the next verse, The earth was without form, or in loose atoms." Dr. A. Clarke says, "The rabbins, who are legitimate judges in a case of verbal criticism on their own language, are unanimous in asserting that the word bara expresses the commencement of

the existence of a thing, or egression from nonentity to entity. It does not in its primary meaning denote the preserving, or new-forming, things that had previously existed, as some imagine, but creation in the proper sense of the term, though it has some other acceptations in other places." So much for philology. As for geology, it can never prove matter to be eternal; and if not eternal, it must have been created. Moses tells us that "In the beginning God created eth (the matter of) the heavens and the earth." What do we want more? Why try to set that aside? Let geologists pursue their investigations of nature until their favourite science be more truly scientific than yet it is, before we try to set it and the Mosaic cosmogony at variance. Geological theories have undergone

many

A BURIED CHURCH RECOVERED. THE church of St. Pirran, in Cornwall, which for ages had been buried in sand, was disentombed in 1835. "It was found to contain none of the concomitants of modern Roman Catholic worship: no rood-loft for the hanging up of the host; no vain display of fabricated relics; no latticed confessional; no sacrificing bell; no daubed or decorated image of the Virgin or other saint. The most diligent search was made for beads and rosaries, pyxes and Agnus Deis, censers and crucifixes-not one, not the remnant of one could be found. A stone table at the east end, stone seats against the sides and west end walls, with a small stone font for baptism, were all found; but nothing else. Remarkable that this ancient Christian sanctuary, like one rising from the dead, should be disinterred to witness against the antiquity of Popery: it is a genuine Protestant church of the second or third century." Thus the description is given by a writer, quoted by a correspondent of the Methodist Recorder (col. 4, page 149, of March 26th). The term Protestant is inappropriate to the case, inasmuch as the cor

ruptions of Popery against which we protest, had not developed themselves, when that interesting church of primitive times was built. If not a Protestant church, however, it is itself a remarkable protest against the pretensions of Popery, and its hateful corruptions; affording evidence of the greater simplicity of worship in primitive times, and also that in the early British church baptism could not be by immersion, but by either sprinkling or pouring. As for the marketable trumpery of relics and charms, it is the imported merchandise of the "Mother of harlots and abominations of the earth."

POPERY AS IT NOW IS. BEING with my youngest daughter at Aix-la-Chapelle, on Thursday, April 22nd, 1869, we came, in our afternoon's walk, to a newly-built church near the railway station. We entered, and found workmen engaged at the window on one side of the chancel. When about to leave, a printed paper upon the wall, not far from the door, attracted our attention. It was in French, German, and English. I copied the English version, which was as follows:

"ASSOCIATION.

"For the completion of the votive church of our Blessed Lady at Aixla-Chapelle, built to commemorate the glorious dogma of her Immaculate Conception, solemnly defined by his Holiness Pope Pius the 9th, Dec. 8th, 1854.

"1. All those who contribute money to this undertaking, are considered members of the association.

"2. Their names are entered in a register, which will be preserved in the archives of the church.

"3. High Mass for the welfare of the living and deceased members, will be celebrated in the church once a year during the octave of the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

"4. A low mass for the same intention has been said in the church daily at 7 o'clock, since Dec. 8th, 1863, and will be continued in perpetuity.

"5. His Holiness Pope Pius the 9th has granted by an Apostolical Brief of March 23rd, 1856, à plenary

"His Holiness Pope Pius the 9th, as a proof of the great interest he takes in the work, has deigned to send:

"1. In the month of March, 1857, a costly stone from the catacombs of the holy Martyrs Peter and Marcellinus, for the foundation-stone of the new Church, which was solemnly laid May 2nd, 1859, under the first pillar of the crypt by the Cardinal Archbishop of Cologne, Mgr. de Geissel, assisted by several bishops.

"2. In the month of April, 1861, the body of the holy martyr Aurelius, found in the catacombs ad aquas Salvias, which was solemnly deposited under the altar of our Lady of Dolours by Mgr. Baudri, May 21, 1861.

"3. And finally, April 5th, 1862, notwithstanding his oun (sic) wants, granted a considerable donation in money towards the bronze statue of our Blessed Lady which is designed to crown the spire."

The statue is now there, at the apex of an openwork spire, with a metallic nimbus, or radiation surrounding its head. Such is Popery in the nineteenth century, unchanged and unchangeable, except as progressing in error and corruption. W. B. C.

Phenomena of the Months.

SEPTEMBER.

SEPTEMBER, as to average temperature, is like the period from the middle of May to the middle of June reversed, and attended by all the symptoms of decadence. and decline in place of those of bloom and vigorous growth. From a daily average of temperature equal to 59 degrees at the beginning, there is an uniform decline to 54 degrees at the end. Two days average 59 degrees: nine days average 58; six days 57; four days 55; and four days 54 degrees, during fifty years. The general average of rainfall in September is about two and one-fifth inches; from 1860 to 1867, however, it was two and a quarter inches, or an excess of 0.067, and was followed after the very dry summer of last year by a diminution to rather more than half an inch below the previous average.

The sun rises at thirteen minutes after five on the 1st, and sets at fourteen minutes before seven; on the 15th it rises at twenty-five minutes before six, and sets at fourteen minutes after six; and on the 31st it rises one minute before six, and sets nineteen minutes before six. The day shortens one hour and fifty-four minutes during the month; namely, forty-seven minutes in the morning, and sixty-seven minutes in the evening. On the 1st of September there are two hours and four minutes of twilight in the morning, two hours and five minutes in the evening; the length of the day being thirteen hours and thirty-four mi

and

nutes, and of the two twilights four hours and nine minutes, leaving only six hours and seventeen minutes for the true night.

The moon is new on the 6th at seven minutes after six in the morning, and full on the 20th at fortyone minutes after eight in the evening. On the first Sunday it sets four minutes before the sun, its thin crescent being visible the following night, and setting twenty minutes after the sun; on the second Sunday it sets at five minutes after ten; on the third Sunday it rises four minutes before sunset and shines all night; and on the fourth Sunday it rises at nineteen minutes before nine at night.

The moon is near to Uranus on the 2nd, to Mercury on the 7th, to Venus on the 8th, to Mars on the 9th, to Saturn on the 12th, to Jupiter on the 25th, to Aldebaran on the 26th, and to Uranus for the second time this month on the 30th.

Mercury both rises and sets after the sun all the month; but its time of setting only for a short time exceeds half an hour after sunset, and this planet is therefore unfavourably situated for observation.

Venus is an evening star, setting fifty-four minutes after the sun on the 3rd, and one hour and four minutes on the 30th.

Mars, also an evening star, sets at seven minutes after eight on the 1st, and at ten minutes before seven on the 30th.

Jupiter rises at four minutes before nine on the evening of the 1st, and at seven o'clock on the 30th.

Saturn, an evening star, sets on the 1st at five minutes after ten, and on the 30th at fifteen minutes after eight. Uranus rises before midnight after the 10th.

Neptune rises between seven and eight in the evening the first half of the month, and between six and seven after the 15th.

Summer ends this month, and autumn commences, on the 23rd, twenty-eight minutes after midnight, when the sun enters Libra and passes the equator, going south. Day and night are of equal duration on that day.

Summer is the longest of the

seasons, being four days thirteen hours and twenty-nine minutes longer than winter; three days, twenty hours and twenty-nine minutes longer than autumn and seventeen hours and fifty-two minutes longer than spring.

Temperance.

THE DYING CHILD TO HER
DRUNKEN FATHER.

"I AM weary, very weary; come, sit beside my bed,

And lay your hand upon me; there-press it on my head.

And listen, father, while I speak, for soon I'm going home.

Oh! I could die so happy, if I thought that you would come.

I've heard the preacher tell you, no drunkard enters heaven;

Then, father, give up drinking, and pray to be forgiven.

O father! will you promise that when from earth I'm gone,

You'll sign the pledge and keep it, like

Uncle John has done?

And, father, pray to Jesus to take all your sins away;

Oh! will you, will you promise this? Dear father, don't say nay!

The drunkard bowed his head, and the promise then was given,

And his dying daughter whispered: "I will pray for you in heaven:

Yes, there I'll not forget you. Oh! I hope you'll join me soon;

I feel that I am going, but I'm only going home."

The child fulfilled her mission, and her gentle spirit fled,

And that father wept in anguish for his only

comfort dead.

He signed the pledge, but found it hard his solemn vow to keep,

He longed to drown his agony, and sleep the drunkaru s sleep.

But that gentle voice seemed whispering unceasing in his ear,

"I could die happy, father, if I thought you'd meet me there;

Oh! will you pray to Jesus, and seek to be forgiven?"

And his angel child seemed saying: "I'll

pray for you in heaven."

And soon that prayer was answered, a con

trite heart was given;

And now he's gone to meet his child, and dwell with her in heaven. Methodist Temperance Magazine,

Passing Ebents.

MONTHS Succeed each other in rapid succession. At least, so they seem to us. No sooner has the final revise of the second sheet of the number passed from our hands, and we are able to breathe a little freely, than the printer's boy is in upon us for copy for the next number. It is well for us that, through the prompt labours of our staff of helpers, we have generally a supply in our portfolio. Thirty-two pages of matter are required monthly. We have never yet been reduced to the condition of some early editors, who had to supply blank columns by portions of the Bible. It is true that a Bible could not be purchased in those days for sixpence.

Since we last met our readers, the great act of the session of the Imperial Parliament has become law.

The Irish Church is to be disestablished. Although we cannot bring our minds to think that this act will regenerate Ireland, nevertheless, we do hope that it may tend to glorify God and benefit that country.

The conferences of the various Methodist bodies have taken place. The fact which stares us in the face is this that, with the hundreds of salaried and the thousands of unsalaried preachers, Methodism, numerically, scarcely keeps its own. The rise or fall of the membership is a pretty fair gauge of its spiritual state. Further, if the Methodist bodies do not rise in numbers and spirituality, where are we to look for the spread of scriptural holiness through the land? The fact that the population is advancing at a more rapid rate than religion is spreading should stir us all up to pray, "O Lord, revive thy work."

MY DEAR

BROTHER CRESWELL,-I have great pleasure in handing over to you, for the benefit of the old and worn-out local preachers, the sum of £22 2s. 9d. from the Northampton Branch of the Local Preachers' Mutual-Aid Association.

Two sermons were preached on behalf of the Association on Sunday, the 18th of July, by Mr. E. Vernon, of Towcester. The morning service was held in the Lecture Hall, Gold Street (the chapel being closed for the time for alterations and repairs). The hall was well filled, and the congregation listened attentively to a very earnest and impressive discourse from the words, "Nothing but leaves."

The evening service was held in Grafton Street chapel, where Mr. Vernon preached to a crowded audience from the words, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? the collections being in advance of last year.

On Monday, the 19th, the tea and public meeting was held; about 120 sat down to tea, the trays being given by Mrs. Ed. Rush, Mrs. Wis

dom, Mrs. Rainbow, Mrs. G. Smith, Mrs. Ireson, Mrs. J. Wilson, Mrs. J. Wright, Mrs. R. E. Greenhough, and Mr. R. Groom. After the tea the public meeting was held in Grafton Street chapel, the Rev. Jno. Watson, superintendent minister, occupying the chair, and the meeting was addressed by the Rev. John Brown, the Rev. Thomas Adams, and Brothers Hind, Cooper, Matthews, E. Vernon, Lenton, J. Marsh, Kent, Pinney, and Shaw. The meeting was a most interesting one, as well spiritually as financially. Votes of thanks being given to the chairman, to the ladies for their kindness in providing tea, and to Mr. Vernon, who well deserves the thanks for the good services he has rendered to the Association, the meeting was brought to a close.

The local Committee tender their best thanks to the friends in connection with both chapels in Northampton and throughout the circuit for the kind manner in which they have responded to their call for assistance in behalf of the old and worn-out local preachers.

JOHN LENTON, Local Sec.