III. in March of this year. The impression we received, was that while the work gave evidence of a correct knowledge of Scripture facts and history, its claims on the score of poetic talent were but small. In the lengthened introduction to the present work, the authoress congratulates herself, that "Life Unfolding' has not been condemned as untruthful, or injurious in its tendency. Those by whom it has been criticised have agitated but one question of any importance, that is, whether it deserves the name of Poetry? This suggests another question, What is Poetry?" She then proceeds to discuss this question at very considerable length, and, as we fear, to the. weariness of her readers, who will proceed to the perusal of the poem with jaded minds. We should have preferred to have had a clear statement of the object of the work, which is not at present very apparent. It traces the suffering, resurrection, and glorified life of the Saviour very scripturally, and exhibits a greater power of versification than the previous work led us to expect It is beautifully printed, and will be read with profit for its devotional spirit, even where its poetic clains may be doubted or denied.

OUR OWN FIRESIDE, A Magazine of Home Literature for the Christian Family. Edited by the Rev. Charles Bullock, Rector of St. Nicholas, Worcester. London: William Macintosh. Part I. pp. 56. Price Sixpence.

THIS is a New Serial, in the style of the "Christian Treasury" and similar Periodicals. It is more varied in the character of its articles than its predecessors, and we remark with pleasure, that although they are generally contributed by clergymen, there is nothing in them calculated to limit their usefulness to the members of the Church of England. When we say that amongst the writers in this part are Dean Alford; Canon Stowell ; Rev. J. B Owen; Rev. Erskine Neal; Canon Champneys; Mrs. Balfour; Dr. Winslow, and Mr. Gosse; our readers may judge that the work deserves, as we trust it will have, a large circulation. We regret that the number of works on our table, awaiting our editorial judgment, compels us to satisfy ourselves with only a cursory examination. It afforded us pleasure to find that the Editor is a reader of the "Teachers' Magazine," and has found our pages useful in preparing the first number of “ Our Own Fireside."

INFLUENCE. By Joshua C. Harrison, Minister of Park Chapel, Camden Town. London: James Nisbet and Co. pp. 36. Price Threepence.

THIS address refers especially to the influence exerted by young men on each other in large houses of business. It was delivered to the young men in such establishments, and is printed because some of them wished to read it and think over it in private.

The following extract will shew the beneficial result attending

the exertion of the influence here described, and will probably induce many of our readers to purchase the tract for their careful perusal.

"Nor let any one say that it is impossible to do anything for Christ in a great commercial establishment. Depend upon it, by an invitation to accompany you to God's house judiciously given, by a word wisely spoken, by a tract delicately offered, you may lead the most unlikely, the most seemingly hopeless, to the Saviour. In the year 1858 I received a note from a young man in a large house of business, requesting me to call on a friend of his who was very ill, rapidly I instantly took my sinking into the grave, and grievously distressed in mind.

prayer to

hat and set off. On reaching the house, I found the poor sufferer stretched on his bed, spitting blood in large quantities, and almost unable to speak. When I expressed my regret at seeing him in such weakness and pain, and added a few words respecting sin and the all-merciful, all-sufficient Saviour, he became convulsed with emotion, sobbed as though his heart would break, and made me His understand that he was overpowered at once with shame and gratitude. exhaustion compelled me to shorten my visit; so, commending him in 'the Comforter of them that are cast down,' I took my leave. A few days after when I called, he was seated on a sofa. The bleeding had stopped, and his spirits had rallied. He then said, "Though I am so weak, evidently near my end, I have much reason to be thankful. That young man who wrote to you has been a friend indeed to me. I was in the same house of business as himself, but of a different turn,-living in gaiety, neglecting God's house entirely, ignorant of the Bible as a babe. He saw that my health was beginning to fail, and knew that I was unprepared to die. He determined, therefore, to make an effort to reclaim and save me. One evening when I entered my room, after an hour or two of pleasure, I saw a note lying on my dressing-table, the direction of which was in his handwriting. I opened it, and found enclosed a little tract-one small page of print. I read it-probably he was praying for me at the timeand such was the effect which it produced on my mind, that I threw myself on my bed just as I was, and lay tossing in anguish of soul till the morning. I saw that I was a sinner, condemned, undone, needing pardon, and that there was a way, if I only knew it, whereby many had obtained pardon; but I was so ignorant As soon as an opportunity that I could catch no glimmer of hope for myself. occurred I went to my friend, thanked him for his kindness, told him of my remorse and despair, and besought him to say whether there was any way of escape for me. He taught me, encouraged me,-in kind, simple words explained the way of salvation through Christ-dwelt on the love, and grace, and power of that great Deliverer-bid me pray for the light and help of the Holy Spirit, and advised me to come and hear you. This I did three times, but was too weak to sit out the whole service, and just when I was most interested was obliged to leave the chapel. I am still very ignorant-in many things am still in the darkbut I am not without hope. I see that God is love,' and that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth from all sin.' This gives me comfort, and forbids me to despair. And now, sir, pray let me show you the little tract which, by God's blessing, has done so much for me. I value it more than gold." So saying, he took a single slip out of an envelope, and placed it in my hand. I found that it was one page of Newman Hall's 'Come to Jesus,' 'Come to Jesus for pardon.' I joined with him in praising God for His great goodness in bringing light to his soul before the night of death had overtaken him, and gave him that most useful little volume from which the tract had been culled. This he read with avidity, spoke of different parts of it with much interest, and on each following interview appeared to be advancing;-views clearer, faith stronger, hope brighter-until he left me no room to doubt that be had obtained mercy. At last the flickering flame of life expired, and he entered the joy of his Lord."-pp. 23, 27.

B b

Entelligence.

ture which they need, and which the church exists for the very purpose of helping to afford? These are questions which cannot be suppressed, and which the Committee are well assured it is not the wish of any right minded amongst us to suppress. To say that these questions found a solution at Leeds would be too much; but they were earnestly, and we trust impartially looked at."

ary service amongst the poor and scholars week after week, see them come degraded was brought forcibly before the to us more than willingly for instruction, attention of the conference, and it was and yet to so very small an extent unite boldly claimed as the field in which our with us in close church fellowship, withlabours would find their most appropriate out anxiously asking why these things exercise. This view of the subject was are so? We do not grudge to other not fully adopted, but it should receive religious bodies, that our scholars should calm and prayerful consideration on the as it were carry into their midst the part of all who desire to have a share in fruits of the care and instruction which leading home the erring and wandering we have bestowed: in this sense we sheep to the fold of Christ. The duty would willingly labour that other men and privilege of united prayer occupied might enter into our labours. But we a considerable amount of attention in do inquire with some apprehension, Why the conference. In its practical applica- cannot these people find amongst us tion this subject, as was to be expected, that further help and sympathy and nurgave rise to some slight diversity of opinion, but it was remarkable to how large an extent real unanimity prevailed with regard to it; and how little disposition there was, either on the one hand to limit Christian liberty, or on the other to use this liberty, so as to give uneasiness to those who may have a tender fear of engaging in any uncalledfor service. The Committee would here express their carnest desire that the momentous duty and blessed privilege of| prayer may ever be regarded in their true light by those occupied in the scriptural instruction of others. Nor was it alone in connexion with this subject that the truth became apparent, that the vitality of the church is inseparably bound up with the fulfilment of her duties towards those without her borders. The conference was on this occasion induced fairly to confront the difficult yet most interesting question of the connexion between the Sunday school and the church; or to put the matter closely to ourselves, between the Firstday school and the Society of Friends, Some readers of the report of the conference may think that the questions raised belong more properly to the yearly meeting itself than to such a body. But the fact was, that the considerations could not, with the present state of feel ing amongst our teachers, be long set aside. How indeed is it possible for us to meet with our senior and our adult

CHURCH CONGRESS AT MANCHESTER. THIS Conference on matters connected with the National Church, was held at Manchester, on October 13-15. On the third day the subject of education occupied the attention of those assembled. After a paper had been read by the Rev. W. J. Kennedy, on day schools, the Rev. J. E. Clarke, of Derby, read a paper on Sunday schools, from which we select the following.

The Rev. J. E. Clarke said, he would speak chiefly of Sunday schools in large towns, where those who were approaching manhood and womanhood continued to be scholars. He feared they failed to train up any great proportion of young people to be devout intelligent members of the Church. He looked for the causes of this, and would mention some points in respect to teaching, teachers, and churches. In the teaching a more distinctive church tone was required It

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was strange in how many Sunday was a kind of republic, entirely indepenschools the Church catechism was not dent of the minister. This was alien to taught. It would be a boon if they had the spirit of the Church of England, in a short catechism published by author- which the clergyman not only ministered ity, which, without naming sects, should to those of mature years, but also directed provide the scholars with first principles, the teaching of the young. The third expressed very simply, and teaching point of weakness, was that which them why they were not Wesleyans, should be their glory and strength, Independents, or Baptists. The Sunday namely, their churches. These were school-room was not made as pleasant but sparsely attended, and he believed as it might be. Sunday should be made it was the miserable exclusiveness of a happy day. It was a question whether the pew system in its abuse which sent there were not too many sessions of the thousands to chapel, where, though there school held. Much would result if the were pews, all comers were made more school time was shorter, and if a few welcome than the church thought quite minutes were given at the beginning genteel. Next to this was the distaste and end of the session for the singing of given to the restless spirits of the boys hymns. The room should be made at- by the length of the services and the tractive by flowers being placed on the uncomfortable places assigned to the window sills, and cheap prints on the scholars. He recently received a hint walls. Such influences were not lost, from an American friend, who suggested even on the boys, but tended to refine the holding of a service for the children and elevate them. The young must in the church before they were wearied have recreation, and they should be with the Sunday school. He adopted the helped to provide it themselves in the suggestion, and held a service at a school-room by music and quiet games quarter past nine, in which hymns were on winter nights, and by cricket and sung, and after the second lesson he outdoor games in the summer. A serious gave a ten minutes' address. At ten danger to Sunday school children existed o'clock the children went into the school, in excursion trains, by which the children where the teachers questioned them upwere kept out late, and travelled often in on what they had learned from the adclose carriages with persons in drink. dress, and at half-past ten they were It would be well if a trip was arranged dismissed. This service enabled mothers once or twice a year for scholars and their to come to church with the children and parents; and thus they would be left to return home in time to prepare the without excuse if they ran into the dinner. It introduced the children to temptations of undisciplined excursions. school, and made them acquainted with Another obstruction to the success of the clergyman; and he thought that in Sunday-schools was the grievous abuse every way the practice would work well. of strong drink. The young should be made keenly alive to this danger. With respect to the labours of the teachers, it was easier for ladies to prepare a lesson in the week than for men, hard worked as they were from Monday morning to Saturday night. He could not conceal the fact that comparatively few male teachers prepared the lesson. In Dissenting schools the teachers' lessons were often supplemented by the superintendent. Among Dissenters, however, the school

The Rev. G. D.Grundy, of Leeds, near Oldham, then read a paper on the negative and positive advantages of Sunday schools; after which Mr. Fleet, the secretary of the Church of England Sunday School Institute, addressed the meeting. From the reference afterwards made to this address by the Bishop of Oxford, who occupied the chair, we regret that it does not appear to have been reported, and we cannot therefore present it to our readers.