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Mr. Foot commenced by saying, that there were two kinds of memory, -active and passive. Active memory was the power of fixing in the mind, incidents which we wished to remember, and which required some effort to do so. Passive memory was the faculty of remembering incidents which required no effort to do so. If we wished to have good memories, we should be temperate in eating and sleeping. Montesquien said, "reading was laziness in disguise,' and so it is if we only read for amusement, and do not think of, or try to remember what we read. We should cultivate our memories; some persons read nothing but sensational novels, which they do not care to remember after they have read them. The best time for reading, was in the evening just before sleeping, because then a greater period elapses before the mind is disturbed with other things. A remarkable instance of powerful memory was recorded of an ancient named Simonides, who was in a room filled with people; he went out, and afterwards the roof fell in, and so mutilated the bodies that they could not be distinguished except by Simonides, who remembered the seats in which each individual was seated. The ancients recorded artificial methods of improving the memory, and several modern ones were also practised.

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Woodfall, the father of reporting, often called Memory Woodfall, commenced by going to the House of Commons every evening, and sitting there during the whole of the debate, listening attentively to all speeches (no one being allowed to take notes), and the next day writing an abstract from memory. By this means he raised the character of the "Morning Chronicle" for which he reported, far above its contemporaries, until they outstripped him by employing a number of reporters, sending one for a short time only, and letting him out to write an abstract of what he heard, whilst another took his place. The whole of the Lecture was exceedingly interesting, and at its close, a few remarks from the Chairman, and Messrs J. Moore and A. Andrew, terminated the proceding.

UNITED KINGDOM

ALLIANCE.

On Tuesday evening, December 3rd, the Rev. Dawson Burns represented the London Auxiliary of the United Kingdom Alliance at a Public Meeting held in the Lecture Hall. John Noble, Esq., J.P., of Brighton, presided, and earnestly commended the principles of the Alliance. The rev. lecturer delivered a most argumentative and conclusive address at the close of which Mr. J. Hilton, jun., moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Cox, and carried unanimously: "That this meeting views the traffic in strong drink as an unmitigated evil which ought to be prohibited by law; and that the Permissive Bill, as suggested by the United Kingdom Alliance, is the most suitable form of legal enactment with that object, as it would enable the people to remove the evil by their own act."-Votes of thanks to the chairman and speaker were passed.

MOTHER'S MEETING.

During the last four years, an important Mission has been conducted in Bromley, as a branch of the London Bible and Domestic Female Missions, by which a Daily Visitor among the sick and poor has been employed to read the Word of God, to administer nourishment in cases of deep distress, and to endeavour to promote the moral and spiritual good of the very lowest classes, by the introduction among them of such beneficial measures as are familiar to the decent poor. The errand of the visitor (to whom the name of Bible Woman" has been characteristically applied) is especially to those who never present themselves at places of worship, and who are outside the pale of all good agencies; and the enterprise was undertaken only with a deep sense that the MESSAGE FROM GOD should be carried to every member of the human family AT HOME, as well as abroad. The success with which Almighty God has blessed the ope

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rations of the Bible Mission seems to point to the supposition that the right kind of Agency,-the MISSING LINK between those outcasts and those who wished to serve themhad perhaps accidentally been found.

In the Bromley District the work is cheering and prospering, although in the midst of such dense masses of poor and destitute as are to be be found in this locality, there is much to discourage. The "Mothers" are invited to attend a Sewing Meeting in the Lecture Hall every Monday afternoon, at which the Scriptures and other suitable books are read while the Sewing is going on. It is a source of pleasure, that so many are brought under the sound of God's Word once a week; for with many of them, it is perhaps the only opportunity they have of hearing God's message. These Weekly Meetings are much enjoyed by the poor women who attend; for in addition to means employed of a more religious character, they are taught to improve their temporal condition by helping them to help themselves, instead of looking to others; by providing them with work; instructing them to cut out and make up garments, assisting them to procure better food, clothing, and bedding and making them familiar with acts of cleanliness and comfort, which will render their homes attractive to their husbands and children, and tend to make the poor women better wives, better mothers, and better neighbours.

The Mothers' Meeting is truly the first cast of the net : as they get things" a little comfortable about them," they begin to creep to a place of worship, but not all at once. The hindrances at home are greater than would, be at first imagined; the. objections of their husbands have to be overcome, and the children to be disposed of, or made ready to come with the mother; and when the home difficulties are overcome, then arises the opposition and persecution of the neighbours, who sometimes tauntingly enquire "What do you get a week for going to Church?"

In order to increase the interest the poor Women feel in the move.

ment, it has been the practice of the conductors of the Mission in this locality to invite them occasionally to a social Tea, and spend a pleasant evening together in the Lecture Hall. One of these interesting meetings was held on Tuesday evening, Dec. 8th, when about 80 mothers, some of whom were accompanied by their husbands and children, partook of Tea. Mrs. Twelvetrees, Mrs. Hoadley, Mrs. Horner, Mrs. Hilton, Mrs. Hoding, Mrs. Foreman, and Miss Garman presided at the Tea Tables, and several gentlemen assisted in waiting upon their poorer neighbours. The Rev. J. Sella Martin, Pastor of the Free Christian, Church, Bromley, also joined the interesting and pleasing group. After all had partaken of the bountiful supply provided for the occasion, and a little time had been spent in social conversation and neighbourly enquiries, they seated themselves for listening to a few short Addresses. The company had by this time considerably increased, and after singing and prayer, Mr. Harper Twelvetrees was called to the chair.

The Rev. J. Sella Martin was the first speaker, who, in a very appropriate address enlarged chiefly on the love of mothers. He mentioned having once visited a Slave Mart in New Orleans, in company with a gentleman. On entering the slave pen they first saw a number of women (or 'girls," as negresses are called) for sale. On the floor above were the young girls;", then on the next were the "boys, for the negroes are not called men, if ever so old; still higher were the

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young boys" or lads. Having seen the "girls" and the ". young girls," the " boys" and the " young boys,"

they might well suppose that they had been shown over the whole of the premises; but by way of a joke, his (Mr. Martin's) friend asked their conductor if they had any other department; to which he replied, "O yes, upstairs." They therefore ascended another flight of stairs and found a number of babies on the floor with two or three women in charge of them. Many of the women on the bottom floor were mothers of these children;

but as women without babies can be sold for more money than those who have them, (part of their time and labor being required to attend to them), these poor little children are sold away from their parents for a mere trifle, and in numerous cases are given away. On being sold, the first thing a mother does is to persuade her new master to purchase her infant by promising not to waste his time about it, or want to take it to the fields with her, or even to nurse it from the time she left her cabin in the mornig until her return at night; and assuring him that she would work and do as much as the others, so that the child should be no loss to him. Thus, in her very love to her child, she would promise to be unnatural to it rather than be separated from it entirely. Mr. Martin continued his interesting remarks for more than half an hour, and was listened to with the greatest attention.

Mr. John Hilton next spoke of the influence of mothers, and said that "They who rock the cradle rule the world" is a truthful proverb. He urged the mothers to protect and shelter their children from temptation of every kind, and made special reference to the blasted hopes and the blighted prospects of thousands of parents through the use of strong drink. He called upon them to train up their children in temperance principles, and encouraged them to believe that word, of warning and of good advice from mothers, accompanied by prayer, were the last things forgotten by the most abandoned criminal, and had been like guardian angels, keeping from evil many a wanderer by sea and by land, though separated by years and by thousands of miles from their mothers.

Mr. John Foot was the next speaker, who said that having frequently had the privilege of addressing them, he should not occupy much of their time. He particularly exhorted the mothers present, in every possible way to make their homes attractive to their husbands and children, and urged the importance of cultivating civility and loving gentle words in their home intercourse. Mr. Foot concluded an excellent address, com

prising a variety of hints relating to the present happiness and future wellbeing of his hearers; particularly urging them to endeavour by prayer and dependance upon God's Holy Spirit, to bring their children while young in years, to devote themselves to God's fear and service.

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Mr. Twelvetrees then addressed the Mothers on the importance of dealing patiently with their children; studying their little wants, and bearing with them in their noisy games and in-doors play. He then referred to the various ways of amusing children; suggested little changes of occupation, and inexpensive home-made playthings; and introduced a variety of topics relating to the management, employment, and treatment of children, in a manner which drew upon the sympathies of all present. The meeting was then closed by singing and prayer; and the women and their husbands in retiring, remarked to each other that they had never enjoyed a meeting so much in all their lives.

DISCUSSION ON THE GAME

LAWS.

On Wednesday evening, December 9th, a discussion was held by the Members of the Bromley Literary Association, on "The Game Laws:are they just and necessary?" Mr. Charles Lamb was called to the chair, who briefly introduced Mr. Edward E. Mofflin to open the affirmative side of the discussion. Mr. Mofflin endeavoured to show the difference between Game and other property, and the necessity there was for Government taking it under their protection. The Game Laws were established for the mutual benefit of all classes, and therefore they could not be unjust to any. Mr. Buffham then opened the negative side of the question, by showing the hardships which farmers suffered from the game preserves of Landowners in their immediate neighbourhood, and gave the substance of an article in "William Howitt's Journal" illustrative of this subject, showing that in

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On Thursday, December 10th, a Working Men's Experience Meeting was presided over by Mr. Batty. Messrs. Swain, Mills, and Gardner delivered excellent addresses, full of incidents, and presenting encouragements to hard working men to persevere in the practice of Total Abstinence. A good Christian man who has just emigrated to Canada, with about £90 in his possession, said before leaving, that he owed his reformation of character and position (under God) to taking the Teetotal Pledge one night in the Lecture Hall, when a poor outcast navvie working on the adjacent Metropolitan Drainage Outfall, and could neither read nor write. The monthly Experience Meetings are much appreciated by the Working Men residing in the Neighbourhood, and are calculated to be useful to those who attend them.

ESSAYON MARTIN LUTHER.

On Wednesday, December 16th, an essay was read by Mr. J. D. Parker, on "Martin Luther," in which he gave an interesting narrative of the chief events of the life of the Great Reformer, of which the following is a brief sketch. Martin Luther was born November 10th, 1483, and at eighteen he entered Erfort University, where he found a stray copy of the Scriptures. The study of this valuable volume opened his eyes to the iniquities of the Church of Rome, and led him to oppose Tetzel in his tours through Germany to grant indulgencies. Luther's doctrines spread with ex

traordinary rapidity, until at last they created alarm, and led him to be summoned to a Diet at Worms to answer charges of heresy. With the courage of a true Reformer he stood almost alone, and declared his willingness to recant his opinions if proved to be false. With the aid of Philip Melancthon, he translated the Old and New Testaments; so great was his influence, and so rapidly did his teachings spread, that Henry VIII. deemed it necessary to take up his pen and write against him. But So apparent were the abuses and iniquities of the Church of Rome, that it had not much effect in stemming the stream of Ecclesiastical Reform which had begun to flow. Luther's career of laborious usefulness was only brought to a close by the hand of death.

A few remarks were made at the conclusion, by the Chairman, Mr. Joseph Foot, after which a vote of thanks, moved by Mr. Thomas Buffham, seconded by Mr. W. B. Bastow, and supported by Mr. J. J. Andrew, was carried unanimously.

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Lecturer, expressed his conviction that the literary fare provided for the evening's Entertainment, would prove both instructive and amusing.

Mr. Allen commenced his Lecture by calling to mind St. Luke's grand and beautiful account of the origin of Christmas, and recounted some of the monkish legends and popular superstitions concerning the festival, which excited considerable interest. He entered into a disquisition concerning the customs of Yule Tide, including the Waits; the use of evergreens in decoration; the Wassail Bowl, and the Yule Log; and demonstrated the extreme antiquity of these usages. Christmas in the olden time was vividly described from the writings of Holinshed, Stowe, and other old English Authors. His remarks on Christmas Carols displayed considerable research, and he instanced some curious specimens of ancient Carols, many of which, to modern ears at least, were sufficiently absurd; while others were touching in their quaint simplicity, and of unsurpassed beauty. The interest of this portion of the Lecture was much enhanced, and the effect considerably heightened by the musical illustrations, which were most ably rendered on the Harmonium, by Miss Louisa Rutty, sometime Organist of Spitalfields Chapel; and more lately of the English Free Church, Hackney. Her playing was clever and effective, and fully merited the applause with which it was greeted.

Mr. Allen then proceeded to give a a description of the Revels and Mummings, enacted in the olden time; and gave a reading from the ancient Christmas Play of "Alexander or the King of Egypt," which excited considerable merriment. He also stated that the component parts of the enormous pasties ycleped 'Christmas Pies" furnished a startling picture of the ostrich-like capacities both of the appetite and digestion of our forefathers. Commenting on Chrismas in our own times, his description of "Our Boy" at holiday time was genial and racy :

"Small boys, even now, do impossible pedestrian exercise in search of the marvellous, nor is their search

vain. That very human failing is gratified, though by no means satisfied, by what the said small boy imagines to be gratuitous exhibitions, generonsly provided for his especial behoof by disinterested butchers. His sight is regaled with prize pigs, disgustingly fat; and enormous sheep manifesting the same remarkable obesity. He trudges on open-mouthed, immensely delighted with the display of holly-decked shops, and relishes amazingly the exhibition of bilious-looking meat, set out in its forest of green, and illuminated by that glare of gas for which the butcher fraternity is remarkable. He is equally entertained with the "double Christmas Number" of Household Bread at the Bakers; nor does he derive less satisfaction from the rows of ghostly uphung turkeys and plump yellow-footed geese at the poulterers. All enthusiastic, he flattens his nose against the window panes at the Booksellers, in wrapt contemplation of the Illustrated News, Punch's Almanack, and the like glowing and gorgeous Christmas issues.

"Everybody seems happy why shouldn't he be? aye, and he is too; and as he stops by the roadside and listens to the carol wretchedly ground out by a miserable looking woman with a pinched-up baby in her arms, he recks but little of the morsel of bread which she hopes to obtain for the eager mouths of the starving ones at home. The night is cold, and pulling his cap over his eyes, he thrusts his hands into the unfathomable mysteries of his breeches pockets and breaks into a trot by way of increasing the circulation; and when he gets home and goes to bed, doesn't he lie awake listening for the waits, and fall wearily asleep, and dream of gigantic plum puddings, and overgrown geese, and luscious mince pies, and good things in general?" To be sure he does: and then when Christmas is a thing of the past, and forfeits, and blind mans' buff, and hunt the slipper, and oranges, apples, and nuts, ad libitum, are things to be looked back upon, doesn't he wake up to all the unpleasant realities of rhubarb and magnesia, and jalap, and drenches in

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