at twenty-four minutes before midnight, and full on the 19th at eighteen minutes after seven in the morning, On the first Sunday it will set at twenty minutes after seven in the evening; on the second Sunday it will shine until half-past one in the morning; on the third Sunday it will rise at three minutes before six in the evening, and shine all night; and on the fourth Sunday it will not rise until forty minutes after midnight..

The moon will be near to Mercury on the 2nd, to Mars and Saturn on the 6th, to Venus on the 7th, to Jupiter on the 18th, to Aldebaran on the 19th, and to Uranus on the 23rd.

Mercury is a morning star, and well situated for observation during the greater part of the month. It rises an hour and three quarters before the sun on the 1st, increasing to nearly two hours on the 7th, and decreasing to forty minutes on the 30th.

Venus is an evening star, setting one hour and forty-eight minutes after the sun on the 1st, which interval increases to three hours and ten minutes on the 30th. Its brilliant crescent in its augmentation as it recedes from the sun is an interesting object on fine evenings.

Mars continues to set about an hour and a quarter after the sun. It is about two degrees south of Saturn on the 9th.

Jupiter is visible all night, and rises as the sun sets on the 7th.

Saturn sets one hour and forty minutes after the sun, and eight. minutes before Venus on the 1st. The interval before sunset decreases all the month, and this planet will retire from our evening sky in December.

housebreaker, a pickpocket, a shoplifter, a receiver of stolen goods, or what not; a human bird of prey; in short, bound to a desperate course of life into which vice or misfortune originally casts him; a wily, cunning man-wolf, constantly on the watch, seeking whom he may devour." But not only against these professional thieves have the honest portion to guard themselves. There are besides them the non-professional thieves, who are found everywhere; from the promoters and managers of swindling companies, to the little errand boy who steals a penny out of his master's till. Sometimes we are led to ask, Where are honour and honesty to be found? There is a class of men not confined merely to the worldly, but cursing and damaging religious society; sometimes filling our pulpits: men who get into debt, shirk and shuffle and evade payment as long as they can, or altogether, if payment be not enforced. We took up one of the religious papers of this week, and saw a whole column occupied by what the advertiser calls, "Good and cheap." Why that man has allowed a friend of ours to write to him upwards of twenty times for the paltry sum of eight shillings, and he has not yet paid the money, although the account has been standing several years.

The question recurs, which has frequently risen before, "Do truth and righteousness, or falsehood and unrighteousness prevail?" Chapels and churches are rising up in every new neighbourhood; but is genuine religion progressing? We must, however, leave that matter, and attend each of us to the direction of Him who said, "What is that to thee? follow thou me."

It is interesting to us Methodists to watch the progress of the movement for lay delegation in the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. We learn from our contemporary," The Methodist," that 269 districts have sent in their returns of the vote, which show that 140,410 have voted in favour of lay-delegation, and 67,044 against it. There are 129 districts from which the reports have not yet been received. From this report it

Miscellaneous.

"THE MARRIAGE AT CANA."
A SKETCH.

STAND in imagination near Cana in Palestine. Daylight has fled, the soft dew is moistening wild flowers, fantastic grasses, the stately cedar, and the palm. Afar across the sandy plain grandly tower the mountains.

The traveller has sought a resting place, the birds of song hide their heads beneath their wings and sleep. Upon a tranquil world yon stars look down, and the placid moon is gleaming. Oh! the beauties of the landscape! What a silence! The bleating and lowing of the cattle have died away, and everything slumbers or is stilled by the hush of night. There is a spell on all things that one half wishes might never be broken. It is the spell that only midnight weaves.

Hark! from Cana comes the shout of voices, and thrilling tones of music are borne on the gentle air. What can it be? See! there gleam the flambeaux, and those four men are carrying a palanquin! It is a midnight wedding. They are wending their way to yonder stream that sparkles in the moonlight! Linger no longer; we will join the happy group.

The palanquin rests. The veiled bride, richly apparelled, and the bridegroom, step under a canopy. The taled "or square veil, with tufts at each corner, is placed upon their heads. The rabbi pronounces the usual benediction over a cup of wine, which is tasted by bride and bridegroom. A plain gold ring is now put upon the bride's finger by the bridegroom, who reads the marriage contract, and hands it over to his bride's relations. Wine is again brought, but in a brittle vessel. Six blessings are rehearsed over it, and husband and wife sip its contents, the rest is then thrown upon the ground, and the vessel is dashed to pieces in memory of the destruction of the temple; and thus this solemn yet pompous service is ended.

And now as they wend their way back to the town, the dance recommences, and shouts and music-strains go echoing across the plain. At length the house of the bride's father

is reached, the procession enters, and the outside world sleeps on again. What a feast is spread before the company! What delicacies, supplied with a lavishing hand! What joy is here! What mirth! as day after day these festivities last.

The end of the seven days is approaching, but ere it arrives we will enter and mark one day's proceedings. Yonder, at the head of the table, sits the "ruler," or governor of the feast. The guests are many, and servants are waiting upon them. Wine and fruit are passing freely, and happiness smiles around. How beautifully adorned is the place! What an interesting group of faces! But one

more than the rest strikes us. Whose can it be?

The day wears on apace, and lo, the news is whispered, "The wine is gone." One of the company bears the words to him upon whom we have been so wistfully gazing. The speaker is his mother. It is evident by the expression of her countenance she wishes him to meet the exigency. We are struck with his reply: "Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." He has authority, certainly; for the servants obey his commands, by filling vessels with water, and bearing the liquid to the governor. It is poured into his cup, when, marvel of marvels! it is no longer water-but wine, and at once the conviction fastens itself upon s-He who caused this is none other than the Christ, the Son of God.

us

"The modest water saw its Lord, and blushed," as one has beautifully said; and thus have we seen the first miracle which the Saviour performed at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee.

Jesus has manifested His glory in all its brightness. Does the bridegroom know the divine nature of the guest he is entertaining?-perchance he does. At any rate his is a high honour, to have such a person eating and drinking from the festive board, and sanctifying by His presence the rite of marriage, instituted by God's own authority.

The ruler of the feast pays a high compliment, and the servants, like ourselves, are filled with astonish

ment, and begin to spread the fame of Jesus. The faith of the disciples, Andrew, Philip, Peter, and Nathaniel, is strengthened in His Messiahship, and He has proved himself equal with the Creator.

แ
"O wondrous Being, we adore thee."

It was the custom of the ancients to place a skeleton in the midst of the banqueting room, to remind the guests pleasure has an end, and bid them think on death.

Here, at Cana, however, is no such ghastly sight to evoke gloomy thoughts; but Jesus, the "Lord of Life," is present, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and by His presence checking the excesses of the intemperate, and preventing Satan's reigning supreme, as he too often does in like festivities.

Unspeakably happy are they who make the same Jesus a welcome guest on all such eventful occasions.

What an evidence is here of the great interest the Son of Man takes in the whole round of human life: alike does He visit the house of mourning, consoling the suffering and sorrowing; and the house of joy, cheering and blessing; proving himself to be the bearer of our sorrows, and acquainted with our griefs-one with ourselves, even our elder brother.

But we must bid farewell to the whole scene. The feast has ended; the music has ceased; the bride has been conducted to her husband's house, and the guests have departed; but never through the long ages of eternity will this wonderful display of divine power and sympathetic benevolence be forgotten.

And as we depart, our imagination opens up another scene, surpassing in beauty the one upon which we have been so delightedly gazing. Another banqueting hall appears before our eyes, where Jesus is mingling with the hosts of those who have accepted the invitation of the "feast of feasts and pleasures. He again provides for the guests, as at Cana He provided the wine. Ten thousand times ten thousand are pa.taking of this feast, which will last for evermore; and sweeter music far than that of tabret, harp, or cymbal, floats through that

high abode where Satan never enters, and drunkards do not dwell. And as we look and listen, the cry bursts forth from our hearts,

Oh, let us join yon happy band,
And in their midst sit down;
Partake with them the royal feast,
And wear the golden crown.

ALBERT.

THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS. THE first time I heard Dr. A. Clarke

preach, he said: Some people, in speaking to God in prayer, tell him how great he is. Now, there is no necessity to tell Him that, for He must know more about His greatness than any creature can tell Him." This remark of the doctor had this effect upon me, that, since that time, in approaching God in prayer, I have not used a number of words expres sive of His greatness, wisdom, or power.

There are other practices in prayer into which we fall, which have no sensible ground to rest on. There is one which is very common, and which I may call the depreciatory practice. The last preacher I heard, in his opening prayer, was telling God what woful beings we are; that if He had only noticed a millionth part of our sins, we should have been weeping and wailing and gnashing our teeth. These sentiments uttered in his prayer were brought up again in his sermon, and the way in which he spoke of mankind reflected no honour, I thought, on our great Creator and Preserver. This way of speaking of ourselves or of others, as far as my knowledge of the Bible extends, is not supported by the oracles of truth. Man, though a ruin, is a glorious ruin there are remains of that temple which at the first was filled with the Divine glory, and it is destined yet to be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Man is low enough, when we view him as a fallen being: and although the gospel is intended to raise him from his fallen condition, this will not be done by sinking him lower than he really is. One wonders, when such sentiments as the above are uttered from Methodist pulpits, where the preachers have got their lessons from: surely not from Him

who said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel (good news) to ""He that cometh every creature unto me I will in no wise cast out." PHILOS.

NOTHING is troublesome that is done by a willing hand.

THERE is an alchemy in a high heart, which will transmute other things to its own quality.

You may find it very difficult to get away from bad company; but you need not on that account throw yourself away.

NEVER shrink from doing anything which it is your duty to do. The pleasure of doing your duty should be a sufficient reward.

INDUSTRY.-Do good to thy friend, that he may be more thy friend; your enemy, that he may become thy friend. Be a friend to virtue, a stranger to vice. Govern thy tongue, and learn to bear misfortune.

OUT of Christ as the way, there is nothing but wandering; out of Christ as the truth, nothing but error; out of Christ as the life, nothing but eternal death. Look unto Him and be saved.

IF a person possess any tolerable

amount of common sense and experience, his own mode of laying out his business is best, not because it is the best in itself, but because it is his own mode.

Poetry.

THE CROWDED STREET. LET me move slowly through the street, Filled with an ever-shifting train, Amid the sounds of steps that beat

The murmuring walks like autumn rain.

How fast the flitting figures come!

The mild, the fierce, the stony faceSome bright with thoughtless smiles, and some

Where secret tears have left their trace.

They pass to toil, to strife, to rest

To halls in which the feast is spreadTo chambers where the funeral guest In silence sits beside the dead.

And some to happy homes repair, Where children, pressing cheek to cheek,

With mute caresses shall declare
The tenderness they cannot speak.
And some, who walk in calmness here,
Shall shudder as they reach the door
Where one who made their dwelling
dear,

Its flower, its light, is seen no more. Each, where his tasks or pleasures call,

They pass, and heed each other not. There is who heeds, who holds them all In His large love and boundless thought.

These struggling tides of life that seem

In wayward, aimless course to tend, Are eddies to the mighty stream That rolls to its appointed end.

Phenomena of the Months.

NOVEMBER.

THE temperature of this month is often variable, but the variation is not great except in extraordinary seasons. Beginning with an average of 46 degrees on the 1st, the tables show an average of 42 degrees on the 30th. But this average is also presented as early as the 16th, and on four other days. The lowest average temperature occurs on the 25th, being then at 40 degrees.

Cold, damp, raw, and foggy, the very name of this month has almost become the synonym of discomfort in England. Yet there are often bright clear days in November, rivalling the best seasons both of late October and early December. The average rainfall is two and a half inches. In the November of 1867 it was only a little more than three-quarters of an inch, more than an inch and half less than the average.

The sun rises on the 1st at five minutes before seven, and sets at twenty-eight minutes before five; on the 15th it rises at twenty minutes after seven, and sets at eleven minutes after four; and on the 30th it rises at sixteen minutes before eight, and sets at six minutes before four. Daylight decreases by fortynine minutes in the morning, and thirty-nine minutes in the evening.

The moon will be new on the 3rd