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THE UNITED METHODIST, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9th, 1919.

EAST AND WEST IN THE GREAT WAR (page 487). WERE THE CHAPLAINS SUCH DREADFUL FELLOWS ? (page 486).

FUNERAL OF THE LATE REV.' JOHN THORNLEY (page 488. , THE END OF THE RAILWAY STRIKE (See Below).

VHE •

1 THE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

With whisk is istoseporsted the 1° Free hEsthedist." Issmided 1886,

No. 619. NRIT SERIES. OLN:' THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1919. [Registered at the General Post Office as a Newspaper,

TWELVE PAGES. TWOPENCE.

DECISION DAY

October 19.

The End of-the Railway Strike. By Henry Smith National Brotherhood Conference at Birmingham

The late Rev. David Bailey ... Sayings Happenings United Methodist Table Talk ... Sunday Afternoon By Ernest F. H. Ca¢ey Miss Viokridge's Poems. By S. Gertrude Ford ... The George William Armitage Ministers' Library Wedding The South Kilburn Mission

From Our Correspondents ... ... ... ... ... 485 Our Local Preachers. By R. Pyke ... ... ... 486 Were the Chaplains such Dreadful Fellows ?

By S. F. Walters, 141.C.. Hots. C.F. ... ... 486 Jetting.. By Provincial ... ... ... ... ... ... 487 East and West in the Great War.

By William Field, u.B.E., Hon. Senior ChaPlain

to H.M. Forces ... ... ... 487

Our Missions in Africa. By J. S. Pinner ... 488 Funeral of the late John Thornley ... .. 488

For Our Teachers. By Maud A. Urwin ... ..• 489 News of Our Churches ... ... .. ... 489

PRINCIPAL CONTENTS.

484821

48222

482 ••• 483 ••• 483 ••• '484 ••• 484 ••• 484 ••• 484

The End of the Railway Strike. THE BIGGEST : QUESTION : • : OF ALL : :

A Letter, to be sent by Teachers to Scholars, 3/6 per 100, postage 6d. extra.

Decision Cards, 1/3 per 100, postage 3d. extra.

London: UNITED METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE, 12 Farringdon Avenue, E.C. 4.

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MINUTES of the Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, held at Bristol, July,1919. Indispensable to United Methodists. Order at once through your Minister, as the number printed will be

strictly limited.

If ordered direct, 6d. for Postage should be added.

HENRY HOOKS, 12 FARRINGDON AVENUE, LONDON, E.C.4. N.B. - The continued rise in the cost of materials and labour

make it imPossible, without loss, to sell at a lower Price.

CHA EL POSTE S! Handwritten, attractive, high-class finish. Expert workmanship, compel attention. (40" x 30"), 2/6 20 words ; other sizes to order.

LOVE, 8 Exchange Street, Norwich.

To the great relief of everybody, and especially of the travelling public, and all who desire a well-ordered com-munal life, the Railway Strike, which began at midnight on Friday, Sept. 26th, ended last Sunday afternoon, Oct. 5th. Saturday's news scarcely prepared the public for this happy consummation ; for it was reported that through the mediation of the fourteen, who represented the Transport and other Trades Unions had succeeded once more. in bringing the representatives of the men and the Government into communications, the negotiations had again broken down. However, the intermediaries tried once more on Saturday, with the result that on Sunday terms for the ending of the strike were arranged to the satisfaCtion of both sides.

The Terms.

The terms are as follows :—(1) Work to be resumed forthwith. (2) On the full resumption of work negotia-tions shall be resumed with the understanding that they will be concluded before Dec. 31, 1919. (3) Wages will be stabilised in the United Kingdom at their present level Up to Sept. 20, 1920. Any time after Aug. 1, 1920, they may be reviewed in the light of the circumstances then existing. (4) No adult railwayman in Great Britain shall receive less than Ms. so long as the cost of living is not less than 110 per cent. above pre-war level. (5) The National Union of Railwaymen, and Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen-agree that the men shall work harmoniously with the railway servants who have remained at, or returned to, work, and the Govern-ment and the N.U.R. and A.S.L.E. and F. agree that no man shall be prejudiced in any way as the result of the strike. (6) The arrears of wages which have been with-held in consequence of breach of contract will be paid after the resumption of work.

That is the statement of the terms as given in the official announcement. Briefly put, they mean—Immedi-ate resumption of work ; negotiations to be continued and to be concluded before the end of December next ; wages as at present until Sept. 30 next year, and while review-able any time after August 1 next, in no case is an adult railwayman in Great Britain to receive less than Ms. per week while the cost of living is not less than 110 per cent. above pre-war level ; no victimisation on either side ; all arrears of wages to be paid.

The terms reflect credit on both sides. It is a victory for neither, bu't means peace with honour for both. The result is a characteristically English compromise. The Government set aside the " definitive " terms that led to the strike. The men resume work without the ultimate rates of wages having been settled. Wages were to be stabilised up to the end of December of this year, they are now stabilised up to the end of September next year. The amount of the minimum wage was in doubt, it is now settled ; no railwayman will receive less than 51s. per week until the cost of living is less than 110 per cent. above pre-war level. For an interim arrangement all this is ideal. I f minima wages can be fixed during the nego-tiations for all grades, with the understanding that they go up or down with the cost of living, it will be a type and pattern of what ought to be made to obtain in every trade. The plan, generally adopted, would do more to obviate strikes and to stabilise industry than anything else the Government or the men could do.

A Stinging Accusation. It would also save the country from the dishonour of

an accusation like that which Mr. Vanderlip, the head of the greatest American banking institution, the National City Bank of New York, has just been making. He says that Great Britain has maintained her trade by levying on her manhood "a wage scale that averaged lower than the point at which the physical efficiency of labour could be maintained." The • accusation has been far more largely true than any of us care to' admit. The September circular of Barclays Bank, Ltd., admits this : "We have to admit that very large numbers of our population have worked hard and for long hours, and yet lived under con-ditions which were a disgrace to a great nation—this while we were annually investing £200,000,000 of so-called Surplus Profits ' abroad. We have also to admit that at a time when our country was the greatest and wealthiest in the world, conditions of abject poverty ob-tained to a greater extent than in many small and com- paratively poor countries. This position has to be adjusted, for we cannot logically emphasise to the mass of the population their duty to their country when there are sacrifices to be made, and forget its obligations to them when there are benefits to be shared." The point is con-vincingly and irrefutably put and is all the more signifi-cant as being put by a great banking cothpany to its staff and clientele. Our poor social earth seems to eager, oppressed and agonised souls almost altogether sta-tionary ; but sentences like those just quoted show that Galileo's legendary saying, "E bur si muove! "----"And yet it does move ! " is no legend here at any rate.

Causes for Satisfaction. In the meanwhile, and looking at last Sunday's de-

cisions, Mr. J. I-I. Thomas, who has worked so mag-nificently and as a moderating force in bringing the decisions about, is justified in holding that the arrange-ment has taken the best form under all the circum-stances : " In any civil war the real keynote is not vic-tory, but a settlement that is honourable to both- sides. I say to you now that, notwithstanding all that has been said, the settlement that I submit to you to-night is in my judgement an honourable settlement, and a credit to both sides." It is gratifying that Mr. Thomas is able to add : "However much we may have disagreed, we are unanimously of opinion that it was due to the Prime Minister's efforts, and not to some of his col-leagues, .that a settlement was reached."

And while we rejoice in the result let us not forget that, humanly speaking, it could not have been arrived at but for the appointment of an intermediary deputation by the Transport: Workers. It is a new thing for one trade organization to intervene as mediators in a trade dispute in which a deadlock has been reached between a trade union and the employers with whom they were negotiating ; but it is a new thing that shows in the ranks of labour what' is for many undreamed-of states-manship and the capacity to see both sides of a prob-lem, and it has been attended with such a magnificent Success that it is to be hoped that this kind of interven-tion will henceforth always take the place of the unjust and cruel -method of the sympathetic strike-. The latter is the way of 'hotheads and fanatics ; the former is the way of humane, far-seeing statesman-ship. And the re-sults of the two methods as applied to the railway strike are not worthy • to be compared for a moment. The result of the one would have been civil war, the end of which no man could forecast At the very least, the victory of either side would have shaken the State to its very foundations. The result of the other method is before us in part, and has a potency of good in it which is prophetic and far-reaching. It ought to mean a great step forward in every direction, so far as the relations of capital and labour, and the raising of the standard of life and well-being in the community are

concerned. HENRY SMITH.

482

THE UNITED METHODIST. October 9, 1919.

National Brotherhood Conference at Birmingham

Immediately following the International Brotherhood Conference in London, the National Conference met in Birmingham, and the influence of the International was felt throughout the sessions. The famous Midland city opened its homes to the delegates, who came from ail parts of England and Scotland, and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham showed a deep interest in the Conference. On the Saturday afternoon prior to the business sessions the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress (Sir David and Lady Brooks)- gave a reception to the delegates in the Art Gallery. Subsequently, in the Town Hall, the Lord Mayor extended an official welcome to the city, speaking with much warmth and geniality of his interest in the Brotherhood movement.

In the evening a great public meeting was held in the -historic hall, presided over by Mr. Arnold Butler, J.P. '(President-elect), and addressed by Dr. Clifford (National 'President), Mrs. Burnett Smith (Annie Swan) (National 'President of the Sisterhoods) and by Mr. Wm. Ward (Hon. International Secretary). The meeting was a strik-ing testimony to the widespread interest the movement has aroused. Every seat was occupied, and in the tiers behind the platform was massed a mixed choir, which rendered several selections with much taste and ability.

When Dr. Clifford appeared he was accorded a tumul-tuous reception, everyone rising to pay him homage. In a virile and forceful address the Doctor dealt with the attitude of the soldier and the nation towards religion, based upon Dr. Cairns's recent book, "The Army and Re-ligion." The speaker said that, while the Churches had failed to capture the manhood of the nation, the Brother-hood movement was an actual necessity, as it met on the broad basis of humanity and provided that warm fellow-ship which the soldier and the rest of the community wanted.

On Sunday special services were held in the city and surrounding districts, and in the evening another mass meeting was held in the Town Hall. Dr. Clifford pre-sided, and the principal speaker was Mr. Arthur Hender-son, M.P., who had a great reception. In an eloquent and striking address, he spoke of what he conceived to be the place of Brotherhood in the great task of reconstruc-tion. A new vision of social possibilities, he said, had taken possession of men's minds. Referring to some of the outstanding problems of international reconstruction, he pointed out that Brotherhood principles involved a fundamental change in the organisation and control, not merely of industry, but of political affairs generally. He appealed for broadening the basis of public ownership and control, and reorganising industry on the principle of democratic control'; giving the workers a real share in the direction of industry and an effective voice in determin-ing the conditions and bringing them in as actual part-ners, largely concerned in the success of the enterprises by which the nation lived.

Brigadier-General Davey, C.F., gave a characteristic address on the soldier and his relation to the Churches and the Brotherhood movement, which was listened to with rapt attention.

The Conference held its business sessions in the Wes-leyan Central Hall, which proved excellently adapted for such a gathering.

Dr. Clifford presided over the devotional service, and inducted, with the chain of office, as his suc-cessor, Mr. Arnold Butler, T.P. The new President has been re-elected several times President of the Birming-ham and Midland Federation ; is leader of one of the largest men's meetings in the country, and greatly esteemed for his municipal, social, and religious work. He is in the prime of life, a man who sets out to "get things done,'i a virile thinker and adequately equipped as leader of a great forward movement. In his presiden-tial address he claimed that a solution of the problems of to-day was to be found in the true interpretation of the brotherhood spirit, represented by that movement. For good or ill, he said, England could never the the England of pre-war days. Men had grown impatient of palliatives, and they had no right to offer half-measures to the new democracy. Brothers in industry would labour for the prosperity of the country and by efficient work enable a higher degree of comfort to be maintained.

It was decided to commemorate the three years' leader-ship of Rev. Dr. Clifford by establishing a "John Clif-ford " Lectureship, the first lecture to be delivered by the Doctor himself next year.

Much gratification was expressed when Mr. Arthur Henderson, M.P., was unanimously elected President of the next Conference. Mr. Henderson was elected hot as a member of the Privy Council, nor as an M.P., but as a Brotherhood man, and his • leadership will have a far-reaching influence.

Rev. Tom Sykes, general secretary, is one of the dominating forces of the movement and a great leader. In presenting his annual report, the Secretary delivered himself of a few home:fruths for the benefit of the socie-ties, and appealed for a knitting together of all the forces for definite propaganda work. The Society has become incorporated for the purpose of holding property. The formation of a Brotherhood Students' Union has been carried out and will offer an opening for gifted members to serve the cause. Public welfare work has been earnestly taken up and a comprehensive and suggestive report on re-construction has been drawn up. On the financial side there is some anxiety, but it is felt that when the move-ment is better organised there will be no lack of financial support.

The Secretary's term of service had been fixed at five years, and as more than two years have already elapsed, some anxiety was felt as to the future action of Mr. Sykes, who was liberated from the Primitive Methodist ministry for this service, but at the close of the day's proceedings Mr. Sykes announced that he was so gratified with the

Conference and the prospects of future service in the movement that he placed himself absolutely in the hands of the Executive. This intimation was acknowledged by the spontaneous singing of the Doxology. It was felt that the future was assured if Mr. Sykes would retain the leadership, for which he is so eminently fitted.

Brigadier-General Davey, Principal Chaplain of the United Navy and Army Board, in the course of an address on "Brotherhood, the Demobilised Soldier- and the Man- hood of Britain," said they saw in the Brotherhood the regeneration of our country and of its manhood. After a fairly wide experience of the men of Britain he was bound to say that he believed in men more to-day than ever before. He urged that there should be in every town and village throughout the country a big institution, and across it the name "Brotherhood." Such a building would take in all, whether inside a religious institution or not. It would be better than any sectarian movement, as the men would feel there was no denomination attached to it. He pointed out what had been done in Norwich and other centres on these lines. On the financial side he thought such an institute would pay its way if leading men in the towns would come forward as trustees. If they would make this a great Brotherhood movement in every town for the social and religious betterment of the men, they would have achieved something worthy of the cause.

The proposal was sympathetically received, but it was felt -that the matter would need the earnest consideration of the Executive Council.

In the evening an impressive memorial service was held to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of over 3000 Brotherhood members in the war. Rev, Dr. Fort Newton, of the City Temple, was the preacher, and based a striking utterance on Heb. xi., 39, 40. -It was a message of triumph over death and a union of spirit with those who have passed within the veil.

Tuesday's sessions were devoted to discussion on the Forward Movement campaign, and other matters of organisation. Mrs. Mary Lewis presented an encourag-ing report of the progress of the Sisterhood movement.

In the evening the Conference was brought to a con-clusion by a conversazione in the Town Hall at the in- vitation of the executive of the Birmingham and Mid-land Federation, which was largely attended by delegates and hosts.

The Conference was acknowledged to be the most suc-' cessful yet held and promises to realise the, vision of ulti-mate success of a movement that has become world-wide in its operations. J. A. B.

The late Rev. David Bailey.

Women's Missionary Auxiliary. Items for this column should be sent to Mrs. J. A.

Dobson, Kingswood, Holsworthy, and not to the Editor.

Sayings. The Inner Self.

It is the inner self which comprehends everything.—REV. WM. WAIGHTS.

Sacrificial Giving. • Sacrificial giving is the first step by which we climb to

God.—DR. BARBER, President of the Wesleyan Con-ference.

Christ and Character. Only on character can any Church or social system

stand, and only upon Christ can character be built.—REV. G. STANLEY RUSSELL, 'M.A.

A National New. Birth. This nation, under God, should have a new birth of

freedom, and government of the people, by the people, for the people, , shall not perish from the earth.—ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Answers to Prayer. God usually answers our prayers according rather to

the measure of His own magnificence than to that of our asking; so that we often do not know His boons to be those for which we besought illim.—COVENTRY PATMORE.

The Remedy for Strikes. Equal partnership between the three factors—Orga-

nisers or Capital, Salaried Staffs and Wage Earners—responsible for production is, we believe, the only solu-tion.—The " New Commonwealth."

The Greatest Thing Needed To-day. The greatest thing needed to-day is the building up by

the Church of character. It was the British character that saved us at a most critical period of the war.—JOSEPH HOCKING.

Preaching with Reality in it. God is not the head of the clerical profession ; He does

not breathe merely the rarefied atmosphere of spiritual things. He is equally at home among the hewers of wood and smiters of iron ; He made the earth and all that is upon it, the heavens with all their suns and stars. . . . The preacher who ignores this olivious fact, and confines his preaching to a region which is outwith the daily familiarities of men need not wonder if his message fails to convey the impression of reality to those who hear.—DR. JOHN KELMAN in " The War and Preaching."

Happenings. —Many volunteers were at work on the railways during

last week. --2400 passenger trains were running in the country last

Thursday. —More and more steel works, blast furnaces, and col-

lieries closed day by day last week. —About 9000 holiday makers at Scarborough were able

to get home last week by train. —Nottingham Goose Fair, suspended during the war

and revived last week, proved a great attraction. —Hyde Park was turned into London's central milk

depot during the Railway Strike, and Regent's Park into the clearing centre for market produce. —500 naval men who, it was said, had volunteered for

working the railways arrived at the head quarters of the Caledonian Railway last Thursday. —President Wilson's breakdown in health still continues.

Last week a specialist was called in. It was reported that his condition was not alarming. —An Edmonton bridegroom cycled 30 miles to his

wedding last week, and he and the bride afterwards cycled to their honeymoon on the South Coast. —About 200 people who had been stranded in Scotland

arrived on board the "Aberdonia " at Charing Cross Pier last week. —Rugby strikers passed a resolution demanding the

resignation of Sir Eric Geddes " for having brought the country to such a critical state."

—A motorman on the Underground, an old servant, offered £6 by passengers on his first trip, declined to accept a farthing, "on principle." —For the past-half-year the Exchequer receipts show a

deficit as compared with expenditure equal to £1,537,404 per day.

—Strike pickets near 'Cardiff last week captured a num-ber of pilferers on the railway and handed therfi over to the police. —A Merthyr Tydvil fishmonger on Monday motored

to Bristol in the early morning, and was .able to take back a supply of fresh fish. —Notice was posted at Crewe. and elsewhere last Thurs-

day that the Government had requested the railway com-panies not to pay the wages of strikers who left their work without notice. —The following is given as an illustration of "new

manners on the Underground :---Passenger : Does this train stop at the Temple? Amateur Conductor : I'm afraid not. I'm awfully sorry. —The Railway Strike, which began on Friday, Sep-

tember 26th, was ended on Sunday last, the ninth day of the strike, and there has since been a general resump-tion of work by the railwaymen. —Out of work pay for all except the Strikers rendered

idle by the Strike was fixed at 25s. a week for mar-ried men and for widowers with children, 15s. for single men_ or widowers without children, 12s. for women, 7s. 6d. for boys between 15 and 18, 6s. for girls between 15 and 18.

-MR. WILLIAM CHALLENGER, Barnsley, writes : I was pleased to see the testimony from the _four

ministers in the UNITED METHODIST, and I thought a word from a layman would not be out of place about the late Rev. D. Bailey. It is said a prophet has no honour in. his own circuit. But the Rev. D. Bailey was greatly honoured in the Barnsley Circuit. He was appointed in 1899, and he stayed five years, which only looked like one short year to both'himself and the members of the Barns-ley Circuit. Great things were done at that time. It was one of the joys of my life to be a co-worker with him as circuit missioner. He was a father and a big brother to us all. And we loved him more than we could tell. Let me just mention a few things that were done during his five years with us. Two causes were commenced—Cudworth and Wombwell. A new church was built at each place, and a new church at Birdwell, and a church parlour and a suite of class-rooms at Barnsley. But some-thing better happened. Hundreds of souls were saved. At the end of his five years' miinstry three hundred members were added to his circuit. Praise the Lord. Two years ago, through ill-health, Mr. Bailey had' to resign. Another joy of my life was when I heard the news that he was coming to live at Barnsley. Both he and his friends had looked to his having a happy eventide for at least a few more years. But that was not to be.

Just a word about his last effort for the Church he loved so much, Ebenezer, Barnsley. The trustees were in need of £1200 to clear the debt off all the estate, and Mr. Bailey set to work and put his whole heart into raising that sum of money. He always began at home. He gave

and got others to give the same sum. In a short time he had acquired £1050. He was called home before the £1200 was raised. He will be greatly missed by all, in the Barnsley Circuit. We shall pray for his dear wife arid only daughter.

Prayer Topic for Week Beginning October 12th.—Miao Circuit—Rev. H. Parsons (pp. 48-49—Report). Scripture Reading : Acts xvii. 16-31.

Acknowledgement.-5s., Sheffield, Sunday - School col-lection for Miao Famine Fund, in response to Mrs. Naylor's letter.

How the extra is being raised at Castlemere. The W.M.A. is inviting the Women's Own to a Christmas Party, and providing a Christmas Tree, bran tub and fishing pond. All the proceeds are for the extra bit to-wards the £30,000 to be raised. We wish the Christmas .Party a right royal time.

Now is the time for our working parties to be busy. Mrs. Brook reports an empty cupboard. Practically everything is wanted in the way of dark warm garments for Yunnan ; cotton goods for Meru ; towels, bandages, etc., for hospital supplies ; sewing materials for girls' schools.

United Methodist Table Talk.

NOTICE.—When Articles or Letters are signed with the writers' names or initials, or with pseudonyms the Editor must not necessarily be held to be in agreement with the views therein expressed or with the mode of expression. In such instances insertion only means that the matter or the , point of view is considered of sufficient interest and importance to warrant publication. The Denominational position on any subject. can of course' be defined only by the Conference.

* * * * * The Editor's address is 188 Rye Lane,

Peckham, S.E. 15. * * * * *.

UNITED METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE. THE OCTOBER PARCELS.

The Book Steward, REV. H. HooKs, writes : " In con-sequence of the Railway Strike and the stoppage of all transit of goods, it was impossible for us to despatch the October parcels last week. These parcels, so far•as the superintendent ministers are concerned, contain the Mis-sionary Reports. Now the strike is settled we shall do our very utmost to get the parcels away at the earliest moment. This may involve sending most of the parcels by passenger train, and we earnestly hope that they will be in the hands of our customers before Saturday next.

* * * * * GENEROUS GIFT TO THE SUSTENTATION

FUND. REV. F. SPARROW, Newport (Mon.), writes

" I am constrained to send you the following interest-ing story, which to me is a little bit of romance. The Hill Street Church, Newport, needed a billiard table for their Institute now starting. Hearing there was one for sale, the Pastor and Mr. J. S. Brown, Church Secretary, interviewed the owners, Messrs. Griffiths, two gentlemen well known in the town. Yes, they had a table for sale and would sell it to the Institute. Then they enquired if we had a Connexional Sustentation Fund, and on learn-ing that we have, they readily and gladly offered us the table and all accessories complete for £40, and said they would be pleased to give back the £40 as a gift to. our Sustentation Fund. A truly noble and splendid gift. The bargain was made and, through the ever-ready and generous help of Ald. M. IMordey, we have been able to secure,the table and to send on a cheque for £40 to Rev. G. Parker."

*. LIST OF 'MINISTERS CHANGING CIRCUITS.

The Autumn List of United Methodist Ministers changing circuits at Conference, .1920 and 1921 was sent out by post last Monday.. A ,copy.can• be had by any Circuit or ChurCh• Steward on receipt of. an addressed envelope and two penny stamps. All applications should be addressed only to the Publishing House, 12 Farring-don Avenue, London, E.C.4. If stamps are not sent, no notice can be taken of the. application.

* •* * .* U.M. TROOPS IN WOOLWICH.

Rev. Thomas Graham, Officiating Minister, 19. St. Margarets Road, Plums.tead, writes : Will you kindly pant, me space to request from relatives and ministers the names, units: and postal addreSses of .men and women in the Army, and located within the Woolwich Garrison? The request covers a wide geographical area, including the men and women of the Motor Transport Company at Grove Park and elsewhere, and the women of the Q.M.A.A. Corps on Bostall Heath. A prompt response will be a valuable service to the local authorities of the United Army Board, and greatly facilitate some wider religious and social ministries about to be introduced.

* FREE CHURCHMEN AND MR. GEORGE

CADBURY. The General Executive of the National Free Church

Council, which includes representative Free Churchmen from all parts of the country has passed _most `heartily the following resolution :—" The Executive presents its heartiest congratulations to Mr. George Cadbury on his

reaching his 80th birthday. In doing so, it desires once more to offer to him its grateful thanks for the unfailing support and splendid generosity he has shown for so many years to the work of the National Council. The Executive prays that his life may be preserved, and that he may be enabled for many years. to come to serve the great Christian interests he has at heart."

* * *- -* The October number of " file Sunday at Home " starts

upon a new course as a bright family magazine. The contents include the opening instalment of a new serial story, " The Smitten Rock, ' and no fewer than five com-pletestories, and articles on " Mother-Love,'.' with repro-ductions of famous pictures, " The City of Westminster," and " More Life and Fuller " a Radiant Ideal of the Ministry of Health. The whole magazine is copiously and brightly illustrated.

* * * * * THE LIQUOR TRADE LICENSING BILL.

At a largely attended meeting of the Executive of the National Free Church Council, Dr. A. T. Guttery pre-siding, .uncompromising oppoSition was declared against the draft of the Licensing Bill promulgated by the Liquor Trade, and a strong protest entered against the proposals (amongst others)-1. To abolish the Licensing Justices and with them the last vestige of popular control over the issue of licenses and the conduct of licensed premises, and

October 9, 1919. THE UNITED MEI hODIST. 483

substitute for them a body of paid Judges, acting on nar-row legal lines, without local kiiowledge, over immense areas. 2. To admit young children into places where drink is sold, and to permit the playing of games for monetary stakes. 3. The proposal to extend the present hours of week-day sale from 6i to 12 and, the hours of sale on Sunday from 6 to 7, being an increase over even pre-war hours for England outside London. •

The Executive re-affirms the repeated demands of the National Free Church Council that the people be entrusted with a power of Local Option to veto the granting or re-newal of liquor licences and declares itself in harmony with the additional proposals of the Temperance Council of the Christian Churches for Legislation to effect Sun-day closing, the reduction of hours of sale on week-days; the reduction of licensed premises ; increased powers of licensing authorities ; control of clubs ; abolition of Grocers' Licenses ; prohibition of the sale of liquor to young persons, and the provision of non-alcoholic resorts as alternatives to the liquor-shops.

*. The whole of the article on " The Army and Religion,"

by Ex-Lieutenant, R.E., which appeared in our issue of Sept. 25, was reproduced in last week's " British Weekly." It occupied two columns on an early page.

* * * * * THE NATIONAL BROTHERHOOD AND DRINK.

The National Brotherhood Conference in Birmingham passed a resolution expressing indignation at the reduc-tion of the Government restrictions on drink ; dernandino-a Measure of Local Veto as conceded in Canada, the U.S.A., Australasia and Scotland, and urging Sunday closing and the compulsory teaching of Temperance in schools and colleges.

* * * * * MISS M. A. HALLATT, .MANCH ESTER.

Miss M. A. Hallatt, daughter of the late Rev. George Hallatt, died on Monday, Sept. 22nd, after a brief and painful illness. For 13 years.she was Lady Superintendent of the Victoria Station (Manchester) Temporary Home. for Women and Girls, in connection with which she did a wonderful work. Our Salem Church has suffered a great loss, for'in both School and Church Miss Hallatt was one of the busiest and most devoted workers.

* * * * * HELPFUL BEQUEST BY REV. J. THORNLEY.

It will be a pleasure to many to hear that the late Rev. John Thornley has bequeathed house property which he nad in Scarborough to the Connexional Superannuation and Beneficent Trustees, to be used by them as a Home 31 Rest for convalescent ministers. Mr. George Sharman is the executor under Mr. Thornley's Will.

This gift of, Mr. Thornley is quite characteristic of the brotherly love and kind thought he always showed to-wards fellow ministers.

* * * * * PERSONAL.

Rev. G. Eayrs, in his review of the book by Miss Dora M. Jones upon Chas. Wesley told our readers that the authoress was the daughter of a distinguished Wes-leyan minister, the Rev. Win. Rodwell Jones. A well-known United Methodist now writes us that the gifted authoress is a granddaughter of the late Mr. Thomas Cuthbertson, one of the founders of the United Metho-dist Free Churches, and also a niece of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ellis Hill, of Streatham, so long and so honour-ably associated with our London churches.

*

SAVE THE CHILDREN FUND. The Save the Children Fund is registered under the

War Charities Act, 1916. The patron is Lord Robert Cecil, and the chairman, Lord Weardale. It has no poli-tical or sectarian. bias. The Funds raised are distributed through---Friends' Emergency Committee; War Victims • Relief Committee ; Armenian Refugees (Lord Mayor's) Fund ; Russian Babies Fund ; Fund to Aid Swiss Relief for Starving Children ; Serbian Relief Fund ; Anglo-Czech Relief Fund.

This Fund, whose object is to send relief to the.famine-stricken children in Europe and Asia Minor, is having a street collection on Wednesday, October 29th. Our readers are earnestly besought to show their sympathy and to give active support to the whole effort. Millions of children are in daily want of the necessaries of life. In Vienna, tuberculosis has become a dangerous epide-mic. Large numbers of young children in Czecho-Slovakia and Germany are totally deprived of milk. In Poland Mr. Hoover reports that there are 1,000,000 under-nourished. children. Want and despair prevail through-out the whole of Central Europe.

A very heavy responsibility rests upon the people of this country, who have never endured such suffering, and are in a position to help these innocent victims of the war. A specially heavy responsibility rests upon those of us who are followers of Him who said, "Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of these my - brethren ye did it not to Me." A great task of mercy and recon-ciliation lies before us all, but especially before profess-ing Christians. If we neglect a chance of helping these unhappy children, what answer can we give to our Master?

We shall be glad to be the means of sending the gifts of our readers to the Treasurer of the Fund, Room 231, 329 High .Holborn, London, W.C.1. Will any of them favour us?

* * * * * HONORARY CHAPLAINS TO THE FORCES.

Some uncertainty, appears to exist in the minds of Temporary Chaplains who have been p-ranted the rank of Honorary Chaplain to the Forces, as to the use of the badge which was sanctioned by Army Order 294/1919. In view of this the War Office states that the badge may be worn only by Honorary Chaplains to the King, and not by Honorary Chaplains to the Forces.

t-

Sunday Afternoon. BY REV. ERNEST F. H CAPEY.

He that reapeth receiveth wages.—John iv. 36. "Push in the sickle,

An' dinner be slack At crookin' your elbow a

An' bendin' your back. Ne'er mind the nettle,

But tak' a guid grip ; Thro' fingers in fettle.

There's naething should slip. Hand laigh wi' the stubble,

Cut cannie and clean. There's nocht without trouble

Ye maunna compleen. Keep up your credit,

Ye're somebody noo ; In wi' the sickle

-An' let us get through.- Come awa', Kirsty,

Fill your sheaf fu'; Keep up your credit,

Ye're somebody noo. Ye'll never need, lassie,

To borrow or beg, Sae long as ye're able

To keep up your rig."

Dinna be Slack. "We have all known clever men who were indolent,

and dull. men who were industrious. But though you may have known clever men who were indolent, you never knew a great man who was so ; and during such investigations as I have been able to give to the lives of the artists whose works are in all points noblest, no fact ever looms so large upon me—no law remains so steadfast. in the universality of its application—as the fact and law that they were all great workers . . . and when I hear a young man spoken of as giving promise of high genius, the first question I ask about him is always--Does he work f "

JOHN RUSKIN : "Two Paths." "Year after year, we slide from day to day ,Like a sleek stream, from bay to sinuou.s bay Wearing the course it evermore hath held. The crumbling banks, that have so long compell'd The stream to wind, to haste, to strive, or stay, Drop down at last, and quite choke up the way That once they foil'd. The river that rebelled Becomes a marsh, prolific of ill weeds. Such is the life of him who streams along A lazy course . . ." H. COLERIDGE.

Ne'er Mind the Nettle. "Difficulties are the stones out of which all God's

houses are built." FABER. "Difficulty adds to result, as the ramming of the

powder sends the, bullet the further. I have heard, indeed, that when a carrier wants to help his horse uphill, he sets a boy on his back."

GEO. MACDONALD : " Robert Falconer." There's Nocht Without Trouble.

"Christ did not so speak that men felt they understood without effort ; but He so spoke as to compel people to feel that if they were to understand at all they must take trouble- in order to find what His meaning was. When the crisis in the history of a man's life comes, teaching cannot be 'too plain. Before that, if it was so plain that no intellectual activity is provoked by it, it may do mischief ; if after that it is so plain as to be understood without effort, the effort is likely to cease. I was in Sydney, New South Wales, rather more than twelve months ago. I went into one of the girls' High Schools and heard a Latin lesson. In a sense it was admirable. The lesson which the girls had to bring up next morning the teacher in the afternoon went over with them ; she connected every verb with its nominative and every noun with its adjective, disentangled, the . con-struction of every sentence, did it with great ability and great clearness, so that it was simply impossible for any girl of the class who had ordinary intellectual power to miss the syntax of the sentence, to be unable to con-strue it. I said to her after the lesson was over, You have left nothing for these girls to do at home, do you think that is the wisest way of teaching a language? ' She said, No ; we have so much" to do that unless we teach in that way we cannot get through our work.' "

DR. R. W. DALE.

GEORGE WEBSTER.

Keep Up Your Credit. "'Tis, by comparison, an easy task

Earth to despise ; but to converse with Heaven— This is not easy!

'Tis a thing impossible to frame Conceptions equal to the soul's desires ;- And the most difficult of tasks to keep Heights, which the soul is competent to gain."

WORDSWORTH. An' Let Us Get Through.

" Let a man contend to the uttermost For his life's set prize, be it what it will ! "

BROWRING. "The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not attained by sudden flight : But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night. Standing on what too long we bore,

With shoulders bent and downcast eyes, We may discern—unseen before—

A path to higher destinies. • Nor deem the irrevocable past

As wholly wasted, wholly vain, If, on rising on its wrecks, at last

To something nobler we attain ! " LONGFELLOW.

•■•■■•1,1.■

Miss Vickridge's Poems.

484

THE UNITED; METHODIST. October 9, 1919.

BY S. GERTRUDE FORD.

This " first volume of verse "—" The Sea Gazer," by Alberta Vickridge (Erskine Macdonald, London, 3s. 6d. net)—is by no means to be confused with the average firstling of the average versifier. To begin with, it is of rare and distinctive quality ; of that genuine stuff of poetry which differs from its shoddy counterfeit as cloth-of-gold from tinsel. In the second place, it should make a special appeal to readers of these columns apart from its merits, on account of the author's personal position and antecedents in the United Methodist Church. One of her grandfathers was the late Charles Wardlow (to Mr. 'Marmaduke Wardlow, by the way, the book is dedicated) ; • the other, the Rev. Edmund Vickridge, entered the U.M.F.C. ministry in 1856, and after long and faithful labours passed to his reward in 1882, at Bradford, where Miss Vickridge still makes her home. This young poet will never be of those hasty artists who scorn to cut their cameos. Her jewels, we confidently predict, will always have their fit finish and setting. Her most original thought—and many of her thoughts strike us with the force of a new thing, or of one said newly—gains immeasurably by the polished charm of its presentment. In " The Cabbage Bed," for example, the fine and novel idea (and it takes a fine idea to• glorify a cabbage bed and make poetry but of it !) is enhanced tenfold by the flawless art of the closing quatrain, where " infanticide " is the juste mot, ideal and

inevitable " in its context. Admitting the necessity of doing away with the caterpillars which might have soared sunward as butterflies, the poet gardeneradds,

Yet when I strip the leaves of lives they hide Of tiny cradled dreamers there within,

The wistfulness of that infanticide Weighs on my spirit like deliberate sin.

It was with the same tenderness, and by a similar flight of imagination, that Burns saw the tragedy of the field-mouse's nest upturned by his ploughshare.

A more spiritual and also a more daring form of originality—daring with the fine audacity of the Christian idealist who can still stand for " Sermon-in-the-Mount " religion in a world at war—is revealed in " The Prodigal, 1918," with its significant Scriptural motto, " How is Babylon become a desolation among the nations ! " The immortal tenderness of the Parable of the Prodigal Son has seldom been more nobly paraphrased in verse than in the twenty italicised lines at the close ; of which, unfor-tunately, we have only space to quote eight :

Once to his father's dwelling entered in A weary suppliant, beggared by excess,

With mouth still bitter from the lips of sin, And limbs still quivering from her bought caress.

He marked

▪

his

▪

brothe• r's scorn, the ange

▪

red brows, 'The grudging lips . . . yet saw (ah, sweet to see !)

The board made ready in the festive house, And bowed his shamed head at his father's knee.

There is passion and there is pathos, both of a subtle spiritual kind, in the sonnet on " The Reactionary," with its poignant conclusion—the heart-cry of many a hero-worshipper

God pity us ! can none set idols up But, after, he must turn iconoclast?

And there is tenderness, of a type curiously quaint and original, in the poem " To An Italian Mandolin " ; an instrument in which, by the way, Miss Vickridge delights. Her Red Cross poems, too, are born of her own experi-ences as a V.A.D., and have the gentle pity which springs from personal contact with pain ; the insight, too, which sees in the common blue and white of hospital ware the likeness of the Holy Grail.

It is not without pride (justifiable pride, surely) that the reviewer recalls the fact that Miss Vickridge has been trained in two of her own " Poets' Schools " for young versifiers. Several of these poems have won prizes in those schools and in other literary tournaments ; the " Saturday Westminster's," for instance, and the " Book-man's." Others have appeared in such well-known papers as the "Graphic," "Country Life," and "Nash's Maga zine." All are (in spite of occasional verbal infelicities like a-strum " and " tireless ") as far removed from " minor poetry " as pure gold from Brummagem brass. Miss Vickridge should go on, and go far.

Mr. John Muff, Leeds. THE Tong Road Church, Leeds, has suffered a heavy

loss in the passing of John Muff. A United Methodist from childhood, he came from Pudsey to Leeds about forty years ago, and except for a few •,-ears when living near the Victoria Road Church, Headingley, he has been closely connected with Tang Road Church and SChool and Institute. His devotion to their interests and wel-fare. occupied all his spare time, and his gifts of service and of money were most generous. The sin of sloth was not his. Meeting his work-people at six o'clock every morning, he was diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. And the same diligence and de-votiOn characterised his work in the church. Until the end of his busy life he never allowed anything to keep him from school morning and afternoon. Nor was the sin of sadness his. Bright and happy in spirit, he was always ready with a smile and a cheerful word for everyone, encouraging others with word and gift. Combined with manly strength, there was the humility of a child, and this combination made him great in the Kingdom of God. He wa'§ a distinctive leader in the Lord's work, occupying many official positions and at-tracting others to himself and their work by his devo-tion to duty and charming personality. The poor will miss a generous helper, the young have lost a true friend, while the bereavement of wife and family is very heavy

The George William Armitage Minister's Library.

A great boon has been conferred upon the ministers and local preachers associated with Bethel Church, Brighouse, in the formation of what is termed " The George William Armitage Memorial Library."

The Library is part of a larger legacy which augments the resident minister's salary by a year, which sum includes to be spent in books for his own private use. The sum of ''100 has been ear-marked for the founding of the Library, and counsel and guidance have been sought from some of our ablest ministers. As a result a selection of books, thought to be specially useful to preachers (both ministerial and lay), has been made and housed in a handsome set of Globe Wernicke expanding book shelves in the minister's vestry. The book case bears the inscription : " This Library is established to keep fragrant the memory of George William Armitage, a zealous and devoted member of this Church, who was ever a loyal friend of • its ministers and by them highly esteemed."

For the upkeep of the Library x;10 a year is allowed, and a Committee of the 'Circuit Ministers sends a list of suitable books to the Connexional Book-room each year.

A series of rules has been carefully drawn up, under which every preacher is allowed to take out not more than three books at one time ; the resident minister, ' as Librarian, is accountable to the CustoThan Trustee for the proper management of the Library.

The Library comprises what the President-Designate describes as " source books,' that give the nuggets which other men and ourselves can beat out into leaf gold, or melt and mint for currency "—such as Hastings' Dic-tionaries of the Bible, " Christ and the Gospel " and " Re-ligion and Ethics." Webster's " New International Dic tionary " is included, also standard books on the philo-sophy of religion, and books of exposition and devotion. Missionary literature finds a place, as do serials like the - "Hibbert Journal " and the International Review of Missions."

At present, the Library is necessarily small though select, but in time it should become an invaluable asset to the preacher who " studies to show himself approved unto God, a workman needing not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

The ministers of the Halifax (Hanover) Circuit and the local preachers of the 'Brighouse section owe a debt of gratitude to the donor whose happy thought and generous heart have placed such book privileges within their reach, and to Rev. G. Parker and the 'Custodian Trustees for all they have done to make the scheme workable.

Rev. George Parker will be glad to supply further par- ticulars to those who desire them. C. B. L.

It would be an inestimable boon to our ministers and local preachers if select libraries of the kind so admir-ably begun at Brighouse could be begun in every cir-cuit. Our generous-hearted laymen could hardly do el more fruitful work. Where nothing better is possible at present, a beginning might be made by circulating in each circuit two or three copies of, " Peake's One-Vol. Commentary " (10s. 6d.), reviewed in these columns last week.—Ed. " U.:M."

Wedding. CROMACK—WEBSTER. -

An exceptionally pretty wedding took place at our Kirkstall Church on Wednesday, Sept. 24th, the con-tracting parties being Albert, youngest son. of the late Mr. A. and Mrs. J. A. Cromack, New Wortley, to Annie, youngest daughter of Mr. I. and the late Mrs. M. E. Webster,. Kirkstall. Widespread local interest was felt, as the bride's family have been zealous workers at the church for about 50 years. The bride had been a S.S. teacher, deputy organist, and member of choir, etc. The bridegroom was demobilized on 'June 1st from Salonica. Previously he was an active worker along with his parents and their family, at the Wesleyan Church, New Wortley. "The voice that breathed o'er Eden " and "0 Fafther all creating " were sung, and a solo was given by Miss Mary Swailes, Horsforth. Miss M. H. Haynes, R.A.M., I.S.M., presided at the organ. The officiating minister was Rev. E. Ratcliffe. The bride was given away by her father, and looked pretty in a charming wedding gown of ivory charmeuse with overdress of lace, ornamented with silver, orange blossom, and pearls, the court train being of brocaded satin, embroidered with silver and pearls, and lined with shell pink georgette. The Brussels veil was kindly lent by her sister-in-law, Mrs. Ernest Webster, and 'was fastened with orange blossoms and heather. She carried a shower bouquet of chrysanthemums, lilies and white heather, also wore a platinum diamond brooch, both gifts Of the bridegroom. Her train-bearer was Miss Pauline Mary Webster, niece of the bride: She wore a gold and pearl brooch, gift of the bridegroom. The two bridesmaids were Miss Annie Craven, of Kirkstall, and Miss Hilda Drake, Bromley. Each wore an amethyst ring, the gift of the bridegroom. The bride's gift to the bridegroom was a pair of gold cuff links with initials. The bridegroom was attended by Mr. Horace Carter as best man, and ,Mr. S. H. Alcock as groomsman, both of Congleton, Cheshire. The church was crowded, and after the ceremony the wedding break-fast was served to the relatives at the home of the bride, " Oriel Dene."

Both bride and bridegroom were the recipients of many beautiful presents, amongst which were a timepiece from the employees of Messrs. Isaac Webster and Sons, Ltd., and a cake stand from the P.O. telephone staff, Leeds, of which the bridegroom is a member, and also a case of silver tea knives from the teachers and friends of the Sunday School. Later in the day the happy couple left for Torquay, where the honeymoon is to be spent.

WHAT was known until the 1918 Conference as the London Church Extension Committee became by resolu-tion of that Conference the London Church Extension and Mission Committee. During the last connexional year much' time of the committee has been given to earnest consideration of the mission side of the work. Determined efforts are being made to turn declining churches into vigorous Home Mission centres. Bruns-wick, in Great Dover Street ; Bruce Road, Bow, are two of these churches, and more will be heard of the work. there.

A third case is that of South Kilburn. This is one of greater London's congested ,areas, and is part of the urban district of Willesden. The whole district had a population of - 61,266 in 1891. There were then 8,151 houses. Willesden now has 169,358 inhabitants and 23,537 houses. As showing the congestion a count was made, rather more than a year ago of the number of children in a certain two hundred yards of street. There were found one thousand. One thousand children in two hundred yards of street !

In the heart of this area United Methodism has two buildings, both freehold sites : Percy Road (formerly Bible Christian), Cambridge Road (formerly United Methodist Free Church). These buildings are just three hundred yards apart. Each church has a fine record of deVoted service. Percy Road church was for years one of the largest contributors to missions in the old B.C. Church. In the days of Rev. James Wright's ministry, Cambridge Road, had a congregation that filled the building. Up to the present time Percy Road church has maintained its minister with the aid of a grant of per annum, and has not only paid its way but considerably reduced its debt and contributed- a substantial sum year. by year to missions. Last year's total was over L42. Cam-bridge Road has suffered more, and has for years been a problem. Various attempts have been made to meet an increasingly difficult situation. The war hit such a church very hard, and the conditions of war-time almost prevented the deserved success of Sister Lydia, who has with a loyal band of helpers, mostly women, gallantly held the fort during the trying period. Most of the members of Percy Road live at a distance, but ,loyally attend and sustain the work. But neither church has a hold on the neighbourhood ; neither church has in recent years net the needs of a district that has vastly changed in character : three, and even four, families each, and in some cases more than that, are now found in most of the houses where one formerly dwelt.-

Early in the last connexional year the newly-appointed minister, the Rev. Cooper G. Hawken, submitted a scheme t9 the churches concerned, and afterwards to the Circuit Quarterly Meeting and finally to the London Mission Committee. This scheme provided for the union of the two churches, but the two buildings were to be retained, both being needed for the full plan of mission service in the district. One church, two buildings. An evangelistic and 'social service programme outlined. The scheme in its main features was approved by all the parties concerned. . The London Mission Committee counselled a bold effort and led in it, offering generous aid. An executive committee was appointed on which the local Churches, as well as the London Mission Com-mittee, were represented. A lay missioner, Mr. J. E. Thornton, has been engaged, and Sister Lydia's services will be continued. There will be a comprehensive and varied plan of operations, including P.S.A., late Sunday mission service, children's church, scouts, clubs, and various social and recreative provisions. The work among women and children is to be a special feature.

Through the noble provision- of the London Mission Committee, Cambridge goad church has been renovated. Much-needed repairs, a thorough cleaning outside and in, and redecoration, have been carried out at consider-able cost. The opening day of the Mission is to-day, when at 4.30, Rev. S. W. Hughes (Dr. Clifford's suc- cessor) preaches in the Cambridge Road Church. A public meeting is held at Percy Road at 7.30.

The superintendent, the Rev. Cooper G. Hawken, has the confidence of the committee, and it is hoped that under his leadership, with the helpers called to .his side, and under the fostering care of the Mission Committee, together with the hearty support of the loyal, friends on the ground, not only will the churches be saved from the fate of scores of derelict London churches, but that the South Kilburn Mission will become a living centre of loving and Christly 'service to the needs of a great population.

The greatest need at the moment is of more workers. If this meets the eye of any man or woman in London who is not giving full service to lesus-Christ in this day of need and crisis, such an one is besought to send name and address to the Rev. Cooper G. Hawken, 205 Harvist Road, Kilburn, N.W.6.

The London Mission, through its officers, Messrs. j. H. Palmer (President), W. Mallinson, J.P. (Trea-surer), and the Rev. C. H. Poppleton (Secretary) earnestly appeal for contributions to this mission and warmly commend it. Remittances should be sent to the superintendent whose name is given above. Please mark all contributions for "The South Kilburn Mission."

It is hoped there will be a great rally at the opening.

At beginning of this month a new College opened its doors in Oxford. It is conducted by University Graduates_ who desire that the benefits they have themselves received from an Oxford education should no longer be denied to the masses of the people. Tuition is conducted by cor-respondence, each student having his or her own tutor at Oxford. Those who are interested should apply for full particulars to the Warden, Oxford Correspondence _ College, Ltd., 65, St. Giles, Oxford.

The South Kilburn Mission.

They Cannot Play at Ball.

GRATITUDE with most of us is, as said the poet Gray,

" a still, small voice" —very small, and very still. Benefits received kill it almost as often as they evoke it.

yET there be things. for ,which we do indeed feel grateful— perhaps because no call is. made 'upon us in return. The

health of a dearly-loved child, is a case in point. We behold some sadly stricken infant—a wistful maiden stretched for life

upon a chair-bed, or a pallid youth shambling along with his legs in " irons." Contrast with the sturdy limbs and lively movements of our own boy or girl is irresistible and we inly murmur : _" Poor child ! I am thankful my boy is not like that."

OUR sensibility does us credit. But not our inaction. Sterile sentiment is the curse of weak natures. That welling up within us of grateful feeling

becomes harmful if it finds no outlet in worthy action. But 'our it forth in healing sympathy and it blesses him that gives and him that takes. Our tenderness towards our own healthy children is deepened by the sanction of " something attempted, something done" for others, while the objects of our compassion have an added sweetness in their bitter cup.

TAKE a great family of children—veritable children of sorrow—like ours. Among our

3,300 little ones is a large number of cripples and chronic invalids. Many of them cannot move without the aid of crutches or like mechanical device ; many are utterly dependent on the service

AILING, BUT HAPPY.

of others ; some never leave their cots ; they can neither skip, nor bowl a hbop, nor play at 'ball. We try to make their lives both bright and useful—for the sense of "uselessness" is perhaps the heaviest cross of the afflicted.

wOULD not a practical interest in this ministry of love be a fitting channel for your gratitude ? You might visit one of our numerous Branches and

as a thankollering, endow an invalid's cot. You might interest yourself in an indiviclual child, or, if your means would not allow of that, you might send an occasional gift. Just now we are wanting £130,000 as a Jubilee Fund to

enable us to receive some of the additional children who daily come knocking at our gates, but whom, for want of room, we are compelled to refuse.

MAY we send you further particulars ? Please address, naming this paper, to The

Principal (Rev. W. Hodson Smith), National - Children's Home (founded by Dr. Stephenson),

104-122 City Road, London, E.0 .1 . General

Treasurers : John R. Barlow, Esq., J.P., and Col. Sir Charles Cheers Wakefield, Bart., C.B.E.

N R Remittances from the U.M. Churches should be sent to "" ' the Treasurer, Rev. HENRY HOOKS; 12 Farringdon

Avenue, London, E.C.4.

" BLESSED IS HE THAT CON- SIDERETH THE POOR."

The National Children's Home has half-a-century's experience of child-saving. It began with three boys in a small house in a mean street. Ts-day it has a family of more than 3,300, housed in 21 Branches in salubrious neighbourhoods. This is its Jubilee Year. Look out for another aspect of its work in this paper next week.

October 9, 1919. THE UNITED METHODIST'. 485

From Correspondents.

Should Ministers Have Hobbies ? MR. JOHN BOWDEN, retired stationmaster, Lifton,

writes : I have read the recent letters on the above in the

UNITED METHODIST, and by your permission will give a little definite experience; more especially on the Rev. H. W. Horwill's letter. I am getting old, and have been member of the U.M. Church for fifty years. I used to sit under his father's ministry when he was stationed at Torquay. He calls such things as physics, mathematics, chemistry, etc., hobbies. I should think that to be part of every minister's work. - Allow me to say we think of hobbies as follows :—One day I was in my office on duty. A minister .walk.ed in, pipe in his mouth, fishing rod in his hand, a large dog behind him. There were two mechanics in the.office, quietly waiting. Seeing the minister smoking, they both "lit up," and I soon had to open the window. When the minister was gone, one of the men said, "I thought that was the new minister lately come into the circuit." I replied, "So it is." He then said, "And, does he smoke? does he fish ? does he keep a dog ? does he pay taxes for it ? He then turned to his chum and said "That big dog eats more beef than we do. We have been giving our few coppers, Sundays, to the collection, never thinking it went to feed a great dog like that, and to pay fishing and gun licence." Now a fair question 'is, do men, women and children in the, U.M. Church think such hobbies helpful or hindering to a minister's usefulness. If they are thought hindrances, would he not be a better man to sacrifice them?

Reception of Members. MR. T. H. ASHELFORD, Forest Rise, writes :-

I am reading "Chapters From My Life" by Sir Henry Lunn., and pen a paragraph from the Chapter on Holy Communion and Confirmation. " I have long held that confirmation has its proper place in the life of the Church. The Lutheran and Evangelical Churches have both retained it, and. I know personally how highly Swiss and Scandinavian friends of mine have valued it. The tremendous leakage between the Sunday School and adult membership in Wesleyan Methodism would be greatly lessened if each superintendent were to prepare for confirmation the yoking- people of his congregation with the same assiduous care that has marked the

. preparatiOn of friends of my own by Swedish and Swiss pastors."

I feel sure there is something lacking in our Church methods that lets 'such a large proportion of our young folk at the age of adolescence, drift away from the Church. A public recognition service held annually, say at Easter, when all young • folk would be received

- into the Church, would be a, great help, I believe ; it need not slavishly follow the Anglican method, but each Church, according to its own traditions, could use such a service after a year's preparation by instruction and and if we were wise we should use the Sacramental Service more freely in our churches. The early Metho-dists made great use of this service, John Wesley's Sermon. Cl. on "The Duty of Constant Communion " ought to be pondered afresh by us all. For the life of me I cannot understand why occasionally it is not part of the public worship as in the Anglican Church. The

, whole of the service, sermon, etc., leading up to the service, and a public invitation given to all who desire to 'ally themselves by faith to Jesus Christ to partake of the same. More and more I feel that we must have some more public occasions when folk can declare their allegiance to Jesus Christ. The old evangelical methods seem to have lost their appeal to our day and generation, and if we were wise we should sometimes use the Sacra-mental service in the place of the old penitent form. Where better can sinful men and women declare their repentance and allegiance to Jesus Christ than in_ the solemn service instituted by Jesus Christ?

Elderly Ministers. A CIRCUIT STEWARD writes : Many circuits will shortly be selecting ministers, and

I wish to put in a plea for our older men. It is due to them that they should be considered by circuits which are fairly compact and in which there are no long walks along country roads on dark nights. I know ministers who have been in active work from forty to fifty years who can preach as well as ever they could, and their experience in guiding and administering circuits is in-valuable. I notice with pleasure that some of these elderly brethren are continuing in circuit work some-what longer on account of the shortage both of ministers and of homes. I fear, however, that some of them would feel compelled to retire if the only circuits open to them were those in which they would have long, tedious jour-neys in all kinds of weather.

The " Quiver " for October. The "Ouiver " for October is a most interesting and

"live" issue. Two items may be named as justifying both these adjectives—" Our New Governor," a discus-sion of how the "Working Classes " live ; and "Are the Middle Classes doomed?" The serial story, ."The Veldt Trail," by Gertrude Page; runs its captivating way, and there are four short complete stories. Among the other contents are "A Sphere for Cicely," a question of one's vocation ; "The Girl I would like to Marry," by a man of Forty ; "The Mystery of Pain," by John Oxenham ; "Women and Business," a Needlework Section, the Editor's racy "Between Ourselves," the "Quiver " Par-liament, the "Quiver " Army of Helpers and the Corn-petition Pages. This is a. first-rate monthly (1s. net).

486 THE UNITED METHODIST, October 9, 1919

text in India, and the points of his sermon apparently were three : " The need of the heathen world, the sense of a better day to come, and the ground of the hope." It is a text that one wants to preach from directly it is observed. One puts down this book with gratitude for a loving tribute to a gallant and great-hearted. Christian man; and with the earnest hope that enough will be rescued to invest a fuller treatment of this man's life, and work, with something of the glow and charm that were so conspicuous in every lineament and movement of his being. R. PYKE.

Shebbear College.

I have read the article in the "U. M." by Ex-Lieut. Z.E., on "The Army and Religion " (Macmillan and Co.), with considerable interest and concern. I have not een the report which it contains and to which he refers,

and I know no more of it than his quotations, so cannot speak of it from direct knowledge.

But may I make a few observationp on his article, even though it may seem unbecoming on my part to do so? For some hard and clear thinking on. this matter is absolutely essential, and I do want to be hopeful.

His aim in writing, says " Ex-Lieut, R.E. " is to strive to dispel any undue pessimism and gloom that may come to Methodist readers from a perusal of the report." I am afraid that aim has not been realised in the case of one Methodist reader, at least. For, if what he says about the remoteness of the Chaplain from the life of officers and other ranks of the Army be as he believes, then not only is this report discredited, but your contributor sup-plies reason for pessimism and gloom.

He says in his article : "The part can never be the whole, and the observations of any- one man, even were he favoured to move far and wide, are yet far from being a complete review of the British Forces." May it not be that this principle applies equally to his own views, and particularly to his view of chaplains in their relations with the other constituents of the Army, or even more so? I add "more so " for several reasons.

¶Tad Chaplains Access to the' Men P Chaplains generally moved about more than an in-

dividual belonging to any other unit, department, corps or regiment. Scores of individual chaplains have been attached at different times to a home camp, an over-sea base hospital, a field ambulance, an artillery unit, an infantry division, brigade or battalion, and to several, both in the firing line and out of it. Many individual chaplains have been in every theatre of war, and as a body they have been scattered wherever soldiers have been. They may or may not have used their privileges well, but during a "show " they had nothing else to do but move about amongst and minister to the men, and generally I think they had a larger opportunity for contact .and intimacy with the troops than had anyone else in the Army. That was their specific job. And one chaplain hopes that he is not under a delusion when he gratefully adds that he never seemed unwelcome anywhere.

I say " more so " also because in the firing line it was extremely unusual (did it ever obtain?) for a chaplain to be attached to a R.E. unit, which unfortunately (many of them thought) made intimacy difficult and unusual between them ; and because, as the writer states, " the evidence (on which the Report of Dr. Cairns is based) was collected from every available source." I am not arguing for the views of the Report. I do not know what they are, except from the writer's quotations, and I cer-tainly do not know what such a sentence as "The Christ of the Bible has no hold on them " means. I only beg for a wider application of the principle of " Ex-Lieut. R.E."

Did Official Rank Hinder P I am sure he will not resent my plain speaking (for our

aims are identical), but if his article means anything, it means (amongst other things) that he himself is better qualified to express views on the subject under discussion than are chaplains. That is the assumption, I think. Per-haps he is. For, after all, experience of human life, a big human heart, sympathetic imagination and a wise mind, are surely the best interpreters of other lives. But, in addition to what I have said above, are not the alleged disqualifications of the chaplain his own also?

Take two of them for examples. The chaplain was a " non-combatant." But until the last phase of the war, and always behind the firing line, were not the R.E. non-combatants also? Was that really a barrier to intimacy and understanding? The chaplain was an "officer," but the same is true of "Ex-Lieut. R.E. "—only more so, I think. I know he will reply that- he went through the ranks, but so did a multitude of chaplains. And was not the relation of an officer to the men he commanded, by the necessities of the case, generally less intimate than that of a chaplain to the same men ? I have also heard the view expressed many times that the officer who had passed through the ranks often seemed more remote from his Former comrades and less sympathetic towards them than the other kind of officer. On this point I express no opinion. I wonder whether the officers and the men thought of the chaplain primarily as an officer? And did this "officer and rank " barrier really stand between the chaplain and the other members of the Forces, speaking generally? I wonder what was the view of the Y.M.C.A. officials at the commencement of the war. Later they obtained permission to put their workers into uniform, which confessedly led often to their being called "officers," and often brought them salutes. I' wonder if

Our Local Preachers.

ladies, and garrulous generals, prattling over their w ne, still talk of the next war ! The war that will end war is a war of the Spirit, against the world, the flesh and the devil. And every local preacher must be one of the Spirit's' soldiers. Is it true, I wonder, that certain local' preachers have been known to give addresses on the war in our chapels, in which Christianity was not even skirted? I am told so.

Dr. Moulton's brother has written " A Memoir (Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton ; 6s.), and the book is pleasant and inspiring reading. It is a volume of some two hundred pages, and is quickly read. The book is written with affection, good judgment, and manifest restraint. But when one has finished it, one puts it down with a sigh. " Is this all "? we ask. Are we to have nothing fuller than this? Honestly, to me it seems a pity such a book should be written : it is so good as to cut away the ground from a painstaking biographer ; and it is so inadequate as to set up the most acute dissatisfaction. Only one or two letters are quoted from : and yet Dr. Moulton must have written thousands of letters to leading men of his day, on the most important subjects, which would enrich a bio- graphy. It may be the letters are scrappy : but such scraps ! His Fernley lecture is somehow scrappy, and a little inconsequent, but every page has its pearl, and I could part with many ponderous volumes rather than with " Religions and Religion." Dr. Moulton is at least read-able, and he lights up the dull places of studious research with the gleam of his own happy genius. He could never be dull : and that is saying a great deal. It is more than can be said of some preachers even. And yet dull preach- ing is vain. It is as well to face that fact frankly as not.

Dr. Moulton did what he did with all his heart. If he sang in chapel, he sang lustily, and even disconcerted very proper people who fear a false emphasis more than they fear evil spirits. If he played a game he went all in at it. He would have agreed with Mrs. Sarah Battle, whose scorn for the man who " unbent his mind " when playing, everyone is familiar with. If he preached it was with passionate earnestness ; and in India he worked so hard as to reduce his physical resources, and thus was unable to hold out with that dreadful open boat, where for companion he had 'Dr. Rendel Harris. One loves Dr. Moulton for his powers, his charm, and his limitations. He would have nothing to do with philoSophy it seems. He was, says his brother, " both ignorant and impeni-tently ignorant." It is unnecessary to add ." of course he was wrong." For my part, I like this kind of wrongness : it makes it possible for the ordinary man to cuddle up by the side of a great professor. If one is able to start with a great man's weakness, there is a chance of being gently and pleasantly introduced to his strength, and even sharing it. The limitations of a great man are the hall mark of his humanity, and keep always open one gate of the citadel.

The courage of Dr. Moulton is apparent always.. And this commonplace virtue is worth more than all the know-ledge of all the philosophers that ever lived after all. He had courage to refuse an assistant-mastership at Harrow, when it was offered him ; and he did so, because he fore-saw that it was no place for a Nonconformist. On_ this, his brother, who also is a bold man, says, " The major portion of the Harrow constituency would have felt itself affronted by the appointment of a Dissenting Minister to the staff--a layman might have escaped notice—to a degree that would not have been the case with an avowed agnostic." Thus much for Harrow then : the School England is so proud of. And concerning Oxford and Cambridge the writer observes also somewhat bitterly, " It will take generations to exorcise that spirit which is far more ready to give the right hand of fellowship to the free-thinker than to the Nonconformist preacher." And this is written since the war, which was to do so much to broaden the sympathies of men ! The reactionaries still assert themselves in our ancient universities, accord-ing to Dr. Frazer ; and in a letter he says to Dr. Moulton, " There is no standing up against the country parson when he arises in his might, 'smites the local don under the fifth rib, bumps his head (I mean the don's head) against a wall, and departs in triumph leaving us pros-trate." What language to be sure : and yet one knows of country parsons 'still.

And now to close on a happier note. Dr. Moulton was the most untiring advocate of Foreign Missions. His Fernley lecture is a positive tonic. He was an authority on Zoroastrianism : but his heart was given to Christ : and Christ was to him the one and only hope of the world. When he preached at the Sheffield University at the opening of the academic year it was from the text, " I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." Yet what an opportunity there was to have sketched the Eschatology of Apocalyptic literature, or to have unfolded the spiritual treasures of Parseeism. Dr. Moulton was a Christian, and so he preached Christ. By the way, has anyone ever noticed this text before It was now dark and Jesus had not yet come "? It was Dr. Moulton's firs

I wonder if " Ex-Lieut. R.E." exaggerates when he says that he has " a thousand times noticed my companions shrink up and become as silent and seclusive as an oyster " in the presence of the chaplain, or whether, as in his own case, and generally speaking, the rank and uniform "proved no great barrier." I continue to, hope the latter. Were the chaplains really such dreadful fel-lows? I certainly know chaplains who did not find the men so ultra silent and seclusive ! I have known chaplains rebuked for their too great intimacy, though generally, if the chaplain moved about amongst and was cheery and popular with the men, the C.O. was satisfied, I think.

I wonder, too, on what grounds the writer bases his " firm belief " that " the chaplain—the padre '—in the vast majority of cases, was not the man to whom such confessions [i.e., the spoken self-revelations of the sol-diers] were made." Isn't that rather sweeping and does it not assume a rather immense knowledge? Further, the chaplain might not tell anyone, even if he received such confessions. He might regard them as sacred. And it • would seem that they are the men best qualified to say whether such self-revealings were to any extent made to them. I wonder if "Ex-Lieut. R.E." will be angry with me if I again beg him to remember his principle—" The part can never be the whole," etc., etc.

Again, does a man always reveal himself in his speech, which I. take to be the kind of "confessions " the writer refers to? He ventures to put forward his own view of the personal religious life of the soldier. On what data? I wonder. "My own conclusions," he says, "lead me to believe that not only has the soldier got religion, but in its essentials [italics mine] it was Christian." I don't quite know what that means, for in another place he writes, " To report on the personal aspects of the religious life of these men was from the outset impossible." Is the emphasis on the word "report," or does he mean that it is impossible to understand and make articulate the' per-_ sonal aspects of the religious life of the soldier? If the former it is merely a matter of words, is it not? If the latter, is not the writer a disqualified witness? Is it as had as that?

What are "The Essentials "? What, too, is meant by " the essentials " of the Chris.

tian religion, which soldiers are affirmed- to possess? Are they experiences, or belief, or practices, or some of each? In any case, what are they? It would seem that men can hardly be credited with " the essentials " of the Christian religion unless it is known exactly what those essentials are. Yet if it be impossible to understand and articulate the personal religious life of the soldier (which the writer seems to affirm in words, but deny by the expression of his own view on the matter) how can it be held that he has " the. essentials "? I may be quite wrong, but I have the impression that the qualifying clause, "in its essentials,'. has reference to the writer's own personal view about the Christian religion. It would so help some of us if he and others who give expression to like views would tell us exactly what they regard as the essentials. He says, " It will be conceded that religion means something different in belief, practice or experience to every man." Essen-tially different? I confess I do not understand, or cannot reconcile where I think I understand, these various state-ments, which of course may be self-condemnation !

Points of Agreement. May I venture to offer a word on the general subject?

in the main I agree with "Ex-Lieut. R.E." that it is only on rare occasions that a man opens his heart in self- revelation regarding his personal religious life, if he means by " direct " a spoken confession, though I think he exaggerates somewhat.' I think it happened oftener than he believes, and I.do not think a man only does this to "bosom friends." I agree also that a man's natural reticence is a great preventive factor in the matter of spoken confession regarding the things of the soul. I would also add that it is•often due to inability to under-stand or articulate himself in. this regard, and that many men as often misrepresent as reveal themselves in their words. But are these the only data we have on the sub-ject under discussion? If so, who is qualified to speak? But may not a man open his heart in self-revelation in other and better ways, which even chaplains may try to understand?—a task in which they may sometimes suc-ceed. I suggest that a man opens his heart widest and makes his greatest self-revelation unconsciously, not so much by his words as 'by his ways, by the responses he makes, by his manifested objects of desire, hope, admira- . tion, disapprobation, love ; by his conformities and his nonconformities ; by his unspoken yeas and nays, and by his general conduct and demeanour. I suggest also that there was a great difference between the man in the firing line during the war and the man away from it (a man came to himself there) ; that the former was more naked-Souled than the latter ; that he was more himself out-wardly and inwardly in the former than in the latter case ; that, generally speaking, the former was more stripped of the conventional disguises that usually hide the real man from his fellows than the latter, and that therefore the man in the fighting line, more than any other made his self-revelation and laid bare his heart, and (is it not presumptuous to add?) the chaplain was in as good a posi-tion to observe and understand as any one else. He cer-tainly had more time and opportunity in these circum-stances.

Anyway, in my opinion that is the material about which and that the sphere in which some clear thinking is needed if we are to come to any reliable conclusions as to our inner personal religious life as revealed by the ghastly occasion of the war. Perhaps a fruitful field of enquiry might be our own selves, and perhaps the clearest revela-tions of other lives are vouchsafed to the man of human-ness, sympathy, and gumption.

it, has been their experience that this caused a deprecia-tion in the value of their work and made them remote from the men.

Were the Men Silent to Chaplains P I

Were the Chaplains such Dreadful Fellows .? BY REV. G. F. WALTERS, MX. Hon. C.F.

JAMES HOPE MOULTON. When a German submat ine sent the " City of Paris "

to the bottom of the Mediterranean, and thereby caused the death of Dr. James Hope Moulton, it struck such a blow at us all that in all the years remaining to us we

• are not likely to recover from it. For he was a man of marvellous parts. He was a very fervent Methodist, and a great scholar : he was at home among those outside the Church who are authorities in recondite realms of exploration, and he was as much at home among young men df moderate gifts whose sole ambition was to preach the Gospel. His " irrepressible gaiety " was noted by all who met him, if only once. To think of that " perfidious bark " aiming its horrible tdrpedo, and sending to death or agony such precious treasures, is to feel not only to hate war, but to look with scorn upon anyone who has a good word to say for it. Apparently, however, " the war that ends war " has yet to be fought, for benignant old

S

Jottings. Some very human sides of the Railway Strike—A motor lorry journey doing the Strike—" Freak " postal deliveries—Queer walking attire—" Rock of Ages " and Burrington Coombe.

I HAVE been much interested in what I may Call the external human aspects of the Railway Strike. I am interested in the Strike itself and have some fairly definite opinions about how it began, whether it should have been begun at all, and how it might be ended. But I must not air my infallibilities upon these points in this column.

But in a quite non-partisan spirit I can jot down a few of the incidents I have read in the newspapers or gathered from friends showing some of the broader human aspects of the Strike.

The main arterial highways into London have been, I am told by one who has seen them, a most wonderful sight for vehicles of all sorts and sizes conveying the workers to their offices and works. The Thames Em-bankment from early morning to noon, and from five o'clock in the afternoon onward, has been a sight never witnessed before, for its ceaseless flow of vehicular and pedestrian travel, especially at the end nearest to Black-friars Bridge.

These facts enable us to enter into the experience of a 'bus driver, who said at the end of the third day of the Strike : " VVomen cyclists wobbling here, there and everywhere, have been the terror of my life to-day." Poor man ! I am sure that 'bus driver, and other motor drivers besides, were equally the terror of the life of poor women cyclists on that day and every day of the Strike.

The Strike has specially hit the middle-aged clerks and other City workers who live in suburbs mostly served by the railway trains which had ceased running for the most part. Partial service was started after a day or two. In one of the crammed carriages a man in middle life, hang-ing on as best he could to the luggage rack, was heard to say, " did hope to get a_seat going horde, for I walked all the way from ---- [naming a suburb miles and miles out of London] this morning,. and I have had a tiring day. But we must do the best we can. Things might be worse."

October 9, 1919

THE UNITED METHODIST. 487

In enables me to understand a sentence or two in an article written last week by Mr. James Douglas. He had made a journey on a lumbering newspaper lorry from Colchester. By the time he arrived in London, he says, "my ears were deafened and my back was broken by the roar and clatter and -bumping. But my imperturbable driver, grim'v with oil from head to foot, picked his way faultlessly through the crush and crash. Tireless hero ! He had been at it some 17 hours. He would be on again at 11. [It was then late afternoon.] Sleep? Not worth it. He would have a coil up.' "

---- The article by Mr. Douglas in last Thursday's " Daily

News " is full of suggestive matter. When the Strike began he faund himself marooned at Frinton-on-Sea. One or two•quotations from his descriptions of his experiences may be permitted.

With what glee as a newspaper man he writes : " I was startled to find that the Press was beating the Post Office. There were no letters at breakfast time, but our news-

- papers turned up as usual."

He joined a Ford car that was distributing newspapers between Frinton-on-Sea and Colchester. I not one of the thingS he saw. "The newsagent's shop was packed with people clamouring for news. The-good lady rationed her customers. One man, one paper, was the allowance."

He joined the newspaper motor lorry at Colchester. " A ceaseless stream of motor cars passed us on the road, each packed with passengers and luggage.- All England seemed to be London bound."

So much for the inward traffic. What about the out-ward ? " The traffic that we met consisted mainly of food and milk lorries. England was manifestly 'feeding herself very generously and doing herSelf very well. The great food lorries were heavily laden, and on their wooden ribs in chalk was inscribed the explanatory legend, Food Only.'' . . The milk lorries bore chalked inscriptions,

Milk for our Babies,' beside the faded divisional symbols that recalled their adventures in France and Flanders."

Mr. Douglas touches another side of things when he writes : " There were very few policemen, and no sign of any ostentatious military precautions. Everybody was cheerful and good tempered, and in one village a bran pie at twopence a dip was in full blast. In another village street the old parson was listening gravely to a parishioner who was telling him what he thought about the Strike."

There will be some curious stories to tell about " freak " deliveries by the Post Office. A telegram was sent off at six o'clock on the Strike Monday night from Fleet Street. It arrived at Golder's Green, just a few miles off, at 9.30 on the Wednesday morning !

- Our Editor tells me that a letter and MS. sent to him from Exeter on Saturday, Sept. 27th, arrived at his office on Thursday morning, Oct. 2nd, whilst a letter and MS. despatched from Southport on the .Monday was in his

office by eight o'clock next morning. A letter from Hull, and another from Dorsetshire, both posted on the Sun-day,' came to hand in London on the following Thursday. Quite clearly, as Mr. Douglas said, the Press beat the Post Office.

One London observer noted that some women making their way to the office turned out quite sensibly attired for the journey.. He specially noted the absence of high-heeled boots and the presence of ampler skirts. Another observer writes : " Yesterday—the fifth day of the Strike—there were still women in narrow skirts and superlatively high-heeled shoes, starting what might be (though they hoped for a lift) a seven-mile walk from the suburbs."

Another phenomenon noted 'was that While up above in the streets a ceaseless and often unsuccessful struggle went on to get places in trams, 'buses, and motor lorries, there were still half-empty trains on the Underground lines that were running to and from the same points as those touched by the crowded 'buses, etc.'

The interest in the discussion on Toplady's " Rock of Ages " seems now to 'be focused, so far as my readers are concerned, on whether or not Toplady wrote the hymn at Burring-ton Combe, near Blagdon.

One correspondent writes :—" I am a Bristolian, although I live in London, and as such I know some-thing of the Mendip Country in which Toplady laboured. I have heard nothing of the Cheddar tradition to which you refer, but I do know that there is a rock in Burring-ton Combe which is known as the Rock of Ages ' and under which Toplady is said to have sheltered in a thun-derstorm and composed the hymn. I had in my possession . until recently a picture post-card of the Rock and could easily procure another one if it would interest, you to see it. Our West African minister, Rev. J. E. Leigh, visited Burrington Combe a few years ago with my father, and when he returned to Africa he took with him a piece of the Rock, knowing that it would greatly interest his fel-low-countrymen."

My correspondent adds " The ignorance of some of the country folk in the neighbourhood of Burrington is very amusing. A friend of mine was once driving through the Coombe with a native. On coming to the rock, my friend said, " 'So this is the rock.' Yes,' was the reply.

don't know why it is that everybody looks for it, but I believe some lady or other sheltered under it from a storm.' Let me add that to the majority of people in North Somerset, the connection of the writing of Rock of Ages ' with Burrington Coombe is not a tradition, but a fact."

One of our ministers in Bristol has been good enough to -send me two photographs—one of Burrington Coombe, the other of the Rock, with its deep, almost upright, fissure in which a man could apparently hide himself from the fury of a storm raging right or left of him, but not from one pouring down from above.

This correspondent says—" Re your remarks in Jot-tings ' about Toplady. It is not merely a tradition, but generally believed that Topladv wrote Rock of Ages ' at Burrington Coombe, near Blagdon, while sheltering from a storm."

It is clear there is a tradition about the place where Toplady wrote his famous hymn. But on what does it rest?

Supplementing his recent publication, " W. B." writes me : "'The question is, When and where did Toplady write the hymn, Rock of . Ages '? Sir W. H. Wills maintained that it was written during a thunderstorm, in Burrington Coombe, Blagdon, Somerset, -the scene. of Toplady's first curacy. I wish to point out that Toplady was ordained deacon (by the Bishop of Bath and Wells), in June, 1762, and licensed to the curacy of Blagdon. It appears that after his ordination as priest, in June, 1764, Toplady became curate of Farleigh, Hungerford. Either by purchase or some practice which afterwards troubled his conscience, the benefice of Harpford with Venn-Ottery, near Exmouth, Devon, was- obtained for him in 1760. He exchanged it in 1768 for Broadhembury, which it has been stated he held till his death.' In 1775 signs of con-sumption necessitated his removal from Broadhembury, and he then went to the French Refugees' Protestant Church, in Orange Street, Leicester Square.

" New L.: seems to me that Sir W. H. Wills' theory is unsound. I conclude that the hymn was written a dozeri years after Toplady left Blagdon, at Broadhembury. In Oct., 1775, four lines of the hymn—two lines from the first stanza, and two from the third—appeared in the Gospel Magazine.' The whole hymn was not published

till March, 1776, in the same magazine, and later that same year in his Psalms and Hymns.' It is, of course, possible that he had the hymn written, but not.published, those many years, but it is not highly probable. • I con-clude that it was completed between Oct., 1775, and March, 1776, and was written at 'Broadhembury.

" The further question of whether Toplady was vicar of Broadhembury and minister of the French Calvinist Church, in London, could be settled by the ecclesiastical authorities at Exeter. Rev. Isaac Harthill says Toplady was not,both at the same time. A Canon informs 'me that he might, as the writer of the biography in the National Dictionary says, hold the benefice till his death, by ob-taining leave of absence, and a curate attending to the duties at Broadhembury."

The argument at present seems to me to be against Burrington Coombe as the place where " Rock of Ages " was written, But perhaps there is something more to be said for the tradition than has already appeared. But it ought to be something beyond the tradition itself.

PROVINCIAL.

East and West in the Great War.

LEAVES FROM A CHAPLAIN'S DIARY. BY REV. WILLIAM FIELD, O.B.E.

(Hon. Senior Chaplain to H.M. Forces).

CHAPTER I. ORDERED ABROAD.

IT was at the close of May, 1915, that I received in-structions from the War Office to report to Brigadier-General G. B. Bowles, C.B., the General Commanding the 94th Infantry Brigade, then formed from the New Service (Pal's) Battalions of Barnsley (two) Sheffield and Accrington. For five months, prior to the formation of the Brigade, in some cases more, these units had trained locally. They had been 'settled in their new home an the "Chase" about three weeks when I joined them as the Chaplain to take charge of the men who belonged to the Free Churches—in all, 1,127 men, but afterwards in-creased when fresh drafts were sent to us.

From Cannock Chase we joined our Division—the 31st—at Ripon. After a period of Divisional training in the Cathedral City, we migrated south and took up our abode on the historic Salisbury Plain—Fovant and 1-Iurdcott—with a short period at Larkhill, under the shadow of Stonehenge, to complete the course in musketry.

Close of Training. When we had been in training rather more than a

year—including the months of local instruction—one clear, frosty December morning, the oft-expected, but long-deferred order came, " Prepare for France." It would be colourless to say that the men received the order with delight. The scene which followed baffles description. They were literally beside themselves with delirious joy, and the same -night sang and shouted them-selves hoarse. Poor fellows ! Little did they know what pain and peril, what privation and suffering awaited them in the future. It had long been a mystery to me why the. British Tommy should always receive his orders for Active Service—fraught as they are with the fateful issues of life and death—with such unqualified exuber-ance of feeling. The position is not on-e easily defined. There may be,' probably are,. several contributory causes. In our own particular case the cause was not far to seek.. The men were, to use their own pet expression, " fed up "' with the weary routine of incessant drilling,

• the true value of which they were, at all times, slow to appreciate. Also, one and all, were anxious to be in at it, to relieve their hard-pressed comrades across the water, and get done with the thing. The fateful order wa.s the most welcome piece of news they had received since responding to the call.

We, in the Officers' Mess,. talked- long and earnestly that night, but chiefly, I believe, concerning the relative value of the various kits that were recommended ; always with the - ominous thirty-five pounds weight allowed to each officer, 'hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles. On the morrow, about the same time, we were reduced to the verge of bankruptcy, for we had purchased a suitable outfit for trench warfare in winter-time—one that would comply with the regulations, and at the same time ,enable us to face the . dreary prospect with some degree of comfort, if it be possible for such a thing to exist in the conditions which. obtained in the trenches of France and Flanders—at least, during- the months of winter and early spring.

Destination Suddenly Changed. We had no, sooner completed our outfit than the Q.M.

was instructed to wire for "Pith Helmets" for the Bat- talion. Our destination was suddenly changed. We were not bound for the battlefields of France, but for " Somewhere in the East." Our address would not be B.E.F., but M.E.F.- To " grouSe " is a prerogative of the British soldier. This is not confined to Tommy ; it thrives with equal vigour in the Officers' Mess. Well, "grouse " we -did, and that- right heartily, for had we not absorbed our all too meagre allowances, and cumbered ourselves with a kit that could be of no earthly use in the East? Someone, we concluded, had blundered, and. blundered badly. Need I say that we proceeded to "strafe" that unknown someone to our heart's content? When we -had wearied ourselves with an abnormal verbal output that taxed -to straining point our limited vocabu-laries, we were calmly inform-ed that the unexpected change was due to Lord Kitchener's return from his exhaustive tour of the various fronts, both East and West. He had, with his usual penetrating insight, swiftly and unerringly gauged the position, and measured the immediate need of each front ; filed upon his plan of campaign, and made his disposition of all available troops to the best advantage,end—well, we had nothing further to say upon the matter!

A simple explanation often reduces uninformed Criti-cism to mere wild talk and silly verbiage. Certainly w3 had been guilty of such an indictment, and the sub-dued manner of our conversation on the various current topics, movements, and events for some days afterwards, showed that we were only too conscious:of it.

We Entrain. Our orders were to entrain for Plymouth, at Dinton-

a small wayside station eleven miles from Salisbury. But, "Watchman,.what of the night? " It was shocking in the extreme. The whole of the seven miles—for we marched through Fovant—was covered in a torrential downpour of rain. No ordinary rain this, but one that was determined--and succeeded in its determination—to soak us to the skin in the first few minutes. Imagine our plight ! We were wearing sun helmets and water-proofs, the men their "overcoats, and, loaded with heavy

•

It is in that spirit of uncomplaining cheerfulness, a London friend tells me, that is the marked characteristic of the way the Londoners are- taking the many discom-forts and sufferings which the Strike is bringing upon them.

These fifteen stories for children of Primary age were written in the first instance to supply the need created by the Primary Course of of Lessons for 1920, prepared by the British International Lesson Council. They have, however, a wider and more permanent use and for this reason have been issued without connection with that Course other than the reference giving the Topic or Scripture which they illustrate.—From. Preface.

PRICE ONE SHILLING. POST FREE 18. ad.

HENRY HOOKS, YARRiNGDON AVENUE, I,ONDON, E•C• 4.

SOME PRIMARY STORIES

Nature, Missionary, * and- Seasonal. at

By M.E., E..W., D.L., and V.W.

488 - Octobei 9, 1919 THE UNITED METHODIST, years on the East African mission field. In 1888 his denomination conferred upon him its highest honour by making him President of the Assembly. In 1891 he re-offered for East Africa, but medical opinion forbade his return. After labouring for many years in home circuits, this great pioneer missionary answered the call to higher life and service. He died at Southport, December 15, 1901. -

The Annual Assembly's resolution of appreciation of his character and services records that as pioneer missionary in East Africa he accomplished a magnificent work. `,̀ By means of a splendid enthusiasm and invincible faith he conquered many difficulties and patiently endured numerous privations. He not only laid the foundation of our East African Mission, he also lifted the missionary ideal of our Churches to a high standard. Behind an un-obtrusive humility he concealed• talents of a high order, and few were able to estimate his life's work at its actual value."

The late Rev. John Thornley.

needed a shave and a bath, change of clothing and break-fast. It was not, however, until after ten o'clock that the latter only was forthcoming. How swift and fude was our awakening to the fact that the glamour and glory of active service did not always coincide with the reality of the thing ! —and we had not yet left our native shores. That night I slept but imperfectly. My valise had gone astray, and there was nothing for it but to wrap my coat about me and lie on the floor and woo the goddess, who proved to be, in my case, at any rate, exceedingly parsimonious with her favours. Out-side, the gale raged fiercer than ever, and the cold wind raked these hastily constructed huts fore and aft. It was futile to dream of one's comfortable bed in the West Riding. I just drew my knees up to my mouth, to pre-vent the incessant chattering of my teeth, and prayed for the dawn. Towards morning the storm abated somewhat, and after breakfast the sun made heroic, if watery; attempts to shine. Still, we were encouraged. Before six o'clock that night we were all on board the "Andania "—as' fine a troopship as one could wish for. After our preliminary chapter of ill-fortune we were in-deed fortunate in our transport. In the subsequent clays, through storm and sunshine, these early impressions were never falsified. Too great praise cannot be given to the captain, officers and crew in their untiring and successful efforts for our safety and comfort. '

equipment. It made this midnight journey one of the most trying that I have ever experienced. There was not a solitary redeeming feature. No band, no cheering crowds—so dear to the soldier's heart—were there to hearten and inspire us. The night was intensely dark, and it was with the utmost difficulty that we could see a yard in front of us. A piercing wind swept across the open and exposed parts of the countryside, driving the pitiless rain into our faces, like so many pellets of ice, each of which struck us with a stinging sensation as though we were being lashed with a whip. Bitten with an unsatisfied desire, it careered through the double ventilators of our helmets, until personally, my head ached. beyond bearing. It was soon apparent that the men were not marching, but stumbling, that is, when they were not wading, through deep pools of water. The greater part of the road-had been badly cut up by heavy motor transport, and every few yards presented is with a crater, full to overflowing. I overheard one facetious Tommy remark as we were splashing through an extra deep pool, "I thought I enlisted in the Army, I didn't know it was the blooming Navy."

Plugging along in Silence. The men plugged along in silence. There was no

singing nor whistling—always a feature of the longest route march. No "Are we downhearted? " or, "It's a long, long way to Tipperary." We had no stomach left for singing. With our sodden clothes and. equipment, and the icy water trickling down our spine and into our boots, we presented the sorry spectacle of a cold, tired, dispirited and cheerless crowd. I teased the men at this silence, moved up and down the line, and, generally tried to cheer and encourage them. But I lacked the

' very thing myself that I was trying to give these poor fellows. The profession of gaiety and cheerfulness was inadequate to the occasion, it lacked the electric current which a genuine possession always sets in motion. In our junior class of Christian Evidences at College I learned, "out of nothing, nothing comes." The truth of this axiom was painfully forced home on me on this unfortunate night. I think I shall never forget this march as long as I live. It could not conceivably have been worse. Only when the lights of the station loomed through the rain-drenched blackness . did the men look up and begin to take some sort of an interest in life.

We reached the station at last, and moved off sharp on the stroke of 2 a.m. Exeter was reached at 5 a.m., where the mayoress had provided steaming hot tea and cakes. Oh, blessed woman ! It was the thought and action of an angel. Will she ever know the boon she conferred on a thousand men who were chilled to the bone, travelling on that cold December night in water-logged garments? I sincerely hope so. The steaming fragrance of the tea was a real Whiff and taste of

heaven. A pity she was not present to receive our thanks ! But perhaps it.was providential ! For had she appeared the men would 'certainly have fallen upon Tier neck in speechless gratitude: Many a man has been mentioned in despatches for far less effective service than that which this lady rendered to us on that pitiful night. She wists not that her memory is still green among those of . us who have survived ; alas, not many ! But those who have fallen upon the field had 'it writ large on their hearts to the very last.

Our Missions in Africa. BY REV. J. S. PINNF,R.

The late Rev. John Thornley was interred on Satur-day, Sept. 27th, at the Scarborough cemetery. Unfor-tunately, owing to the railway strike, the Sheffield mourners were unable to be present. It happened, how-ever, that a number of old associates were in the town and quite a considerable gathering was present at the funeral. The service was held in the cemetery church, conducted by Rev. George Carver, minister of our Clare-mont Church. Among others the following were present : Mr. and Mrs. Ireland, great nephew and niece, Rother-ham ; Mr. J. K. Baker, representing the Hanover Circuit, Sheffield ; Mr. H. Ogden, Hanover Sunday School ; Mr.. W. Holgate, Sheffield Open Air Temperance Workers' Council ; Mr. Crow, Chesterfield United Methodist Church. There were also a number of local friends who had been associated with Mr. Thornley in his work in Scarborough, including Mr. and Mrs. Tugwell, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Gibson, the Misses Etches, Mrs. Rimmer, Mrs. Harwood, Mrs. Storey, and others. Rev. George Carver made reference to the character of the deceased at the service at-Claremont on the Sunday morning.

Tributes. " During fifty years of, his life John Thornley was one

of the most useful, and one of the most influential citizens of Sheffield."

This striking tribute to the late Rev. John Thornley waS, uttered by the Rev. G. H. McNeal, superintendent of the Victoria Hall Wesleyan Mission, at the memorial service held at the Hanover Street United Methodist Church, Sheffield. In an eloquent testimony to Mr. Thornley's ministry, Mr. McNeal said that even worldly people would not deny John Thornley his superlative greatness. The leaders of the liquor traffic whom he fought all his life ever respected his character. The secret of his life they all knew. He put first things first. He broke down the barriers between things secular and things sacred, and no man had done more during the last two generations to bring the principles of the gospel to bear upon the public life of the city. In his temperance work, continued Mr. McNeal, John Thornley was the very antithesis of the* temperance reformer who was caricatured as morose and a kill-joy. His own life was sweet and happy, and he wished everybody else to share in the joys and privileges of the sober Christian life he led. He believed that arcohol was the greatest enemy to temporal and to spiritual pros-perity, and for that reason he fought it with all his heart and strength. Rev. R. Noble, of Rochdale, added a trib-ute on behalf of the United Methodist ministry. Sheffield, he said, was permanently enriched because a good man had lived and laboured there.

Signs of Joviality.

Penzance (High Street).—The Fourth Group Church Social was a great financial success. The previous three socials realised £31 18s. 2d., this one 10s., making a total of 8s. 2d. The original plan was to raise £50 by six socials.

For the first time the men shewed signs of joviality. Tommy is not easily bowled over, and when he is, the smallest act of kindness in the nature of practical sym-pathy, sets him on his feet just as quickly. From one portion of the train I heard a real attempt to start a rag-time melody. Not proving a very great success, it was switched on to the sacred and well-known hymn, "Abide with me." Secular and sacred, tears and laugh-ter, lie close to each other with these brave men. Perfect demons in battle, dogged in adversity, patient in suffer-ing, but as tender as women to the fallen foe when the fight is over ; they are remarkable composites,' with as many facets as a scintillating diamond. Each turn of the kaleidoscope reveals a new admiring feature, undreamt of by those who prejudicially think of "Tommy" as a pot-house patriot, or those who )col: through the spectacles of a wicked and brutal militarism, which regards him as so much "fodder for a cannon." He asks for recog-nition, and deserves it. A wanderer by nature, yet his love for "dear old Blighty " amounts almost to a con-suming passion, too sacred and hallowed for me to probe, or to attempt to describe. When you have pene-trated to the innermost recesses of his nature,. you call a halt, your pen refuses to write. Vulgar, inquisitive eyes must never read the things which you have seen and your ears have heard in the midnight solitude of the 8inai Desert, or the tense moments in the filthy, rat-infested trenches on the Somme, and the last fleeting seconds in the grim, quiet hospital. Those who write most of "Tommy," , know him but superficially, for those who have lifted the veil and been privileged , to ob-serve that complex nature are placed under a great restraint. They will tell you readily enough of their homage and reverence, but you must not enquire the reason why. The ground is forbidden, because it is holy.

Fn a Rest Camp. At Saltash, to our surprise, we were turned out of the

train and marched into a rest camp. A fearful gale was raging—the same which swept with such devastating effects through the greater part of England, and, I be-lieve, Scotland. Our transport found it impossible to get alongside, and even had she been successful could not ,have put out to sea. In this camp we found the 1st Battalion, which had come on ahead of us, and were to be our fellow-passengers for the voyage. The rest of the Brigade—and Division—were either at sea or had al-ready, as in the case of some units, reached their destin-ation. We presented a rather pitiable sight, for none, I suppose, had slept during the night, We greatly

THOMAS WALFFIFI.D. Is. vi., 1-8 ; Mark i., 1-3 ; Acts xiii., 1-7.

Connexional Young People's Topic for Week Commencing October 19th.

' A. writer says : " Among the most illustrious of what-ever ever calling, connected with African history, none stands out so majestic in his loneliness, so lofty in his purpose, so superb in his devotion, as does David LiWngstone, the missionary explorer. Such tribute in no sense belittles the magnificent character and work of others. It rather magnifies them. For to be in any wise comparable to Livingstone in itself is praise." Without• fear of contra-diction, I claim that the last sentence quoted includes such heroes of our East African Missions as Thomas and Rebecca Wakefield, Charles New, Edmund Butterworth, J. and Mrs. Houghton, R. M. and Mrs. Ormerod, and C. Consterdine.

Rev. Thomas Wakefield was born at Derby on the 23rd of June, 1836. During his youth he learned the trade of a printer. • Entering the ministry of the U.M.F. Churches in the year 1858, he was appointed to labour first in the Bodmin and afterwards in the Helston Circuit. In the year 1861, when it was determined to establish a mission in East Africa, Mr. Wakefieli and the Rev. J. Woolner volunteered for this service. /s was noted last week, they were accompanied by two Swiss missionaries and led by • Dr. Krapf. Through illness Mr. Woolner was obliged to return after a very short stay. In a year or little more, the two Swiss returned home, followed shortly afterwards by Dr. Krapf, who had honourably discharged his obliga-tions. So 'Mr. Wakefield was left to toil on alone amid many hardships, discouragements and sufferings. In 1862 Rev. Charles New was appointed to be Mr. Wake-field's colleague. After a long sea voyage, commenced in December of that year, Mr.- New reached Ribe in May, 1803. In February, 1864, Rev. E. Butterworth also arrived. He had left all in obedience to the call of God, but fell a victim to the cliMate 'in less than two months, at the early age of 23 years. His sacrifice has produced fruits of generosity and devotion in others. Mr. New made himself famous as a missionary explorer by ascend-ing the snow-clad mountain Kilima-Njaro. • He after-wards wrote a book giving a graphic account Of his " Wanderings and Labours in Eastern Africa." Three years later, 1874, he set out on a second journey to Chaga, but died at a C.M.S. station on the way.

In the autumn of 1868 Mr. Wakefield returned to Eng-land for his first furlough, and on December 2, 1869, he was married to Rebecca, sister of the late Rev. 'R. Brewin. in February, 1870, Mr. Wakefield returned to his work in Africa, accompanied by Rev. W. Yates,_who laboured faithfully for two years before he was invalided home. •

In 1870, the Royal Geographical Society, of which Mr. Wakefield was made a member, published " A Map and Notes of Native Routes from the East Coast to the Interior," prepared by our hero. In 1873, sorrow upon sorrow came to Mr. Wakefield. An infant son, Bertie, died, and the lonely missionary had the painful task of making the coffin and afterwards reading the burial ser-vice for his own child. A few weeks later, after about three years' sacrificial work as a missionary's wife, Mrs. Wakefield succumbed to repeated attacks of fever. The brave missionary had now, amidst almost overwhelming grief, to make his wife's coffin ; and on the next day, with the assistance of an educated native Catechist from Rabai, he committed her body to the earth in Christian burial. Then Mr. Wakefield again faced life and -took up the tre mendous tasks of the mission alone.

In 1875, Rev. James Seden joined the staff. Trained as a gardener, he prepared the way, during his four years of service, for future agricultural work.

In March, 1879, Mr. Wakefield landed in England on his second furlough. He performed heavy deputation work and gave himself to the study of Hebrew, in order that he might•more perfectly translate the Scriptures into the languages of East Africa. On December 27th, 1881, he married Miss E. S. Sommers, a valued member of our Redland Church. In the following year Mr. and Mrs. Wakefield returned to 'Africa, and on their arrival at Ribe were received with great joy. For health's sake, under medical pressure, Mrs. Wakefield and the children returned to England in the summer of 1886. 'A year later, Mr. Wakefield followed, having completed twenty-five

October 9, 1919

THE UNITED METHODIST. 489

For Our Te'achers. BY MAUD A. URWIN.

HINTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON, OCTOBER 19th, 1919.

REHOBO AM' FATAL CHOICE. I Kings xii. 1-20

GOLDEN TEXT : PSALM I., 1.

It is the sequel to the incidents of last week's lesson that forms our lesson story to-day. Solomon sowed seeds of disruption and rebellion ; his son Rehoboam gathered the harvest, a divided kingdom, and the loss of the greater part of the people's allegiance. In the reaping he was not entirely blameless ; his foolish choice in the critical issue is patent to all, yet needs emphasizing as the supreme moral of the story.

Preparatory Notes. (1). Very soon after the death of Solomon a national

convention was held at Shechem. The place is significant, it not being the capital, Jerusalem, but a city in the northern portion of his territory, where, as is later sug-gested Jeroboam, a likely rival to Rehoboam, had much authority. It was as though from the outset the people were not minded to come to the king, but rather to make him fall in with their wishes. At this assembly certain conditions were put before the young man, prior to his being accepted as monarch. This was the first occasion on which such a thing had happened, the previous nominees for the throne having been in the main accepted without hesitation. But the people were now roused, and determined to have an understanding before allowing Solomon's son to be crowned at all. The conditions they asked were fair, simply the lessening of the burden- of taxation and forced labour, which had been so tyrannically put upon them by Solomon.

(2). Three days were given Rehoboam in which to con-sider the matter. During that time he consulted two sets people, first, the older counsellors who had had experi-ence' of statesmanship under his father, and second, his own companions, men of a much younger generation The opinion of the first was for cautious surrender and con-ciliation ; that of the latter, for the same policy as his father had shown, doubled in severity. It was the latter advice Rehoboam decided to take, forgetting two things : first, that he was not the strong personalty his father had been, and not at all suited for despotic rule, second, that the spirit of the people was no longer cowed, but up in arms.

(3). Thus, in his endeavours to appear mighty and over- powering, Rehoboam lost himself. When the people gathered for their answer, he spoke to them " roughly," threatening to make heavier their burdens, and to " whip them " not with whips, but with " scorpions " (scourges with iron spikes)._ The result was inevitable. With the war-cry, " To your tents, 0 Israel " (a relic of their nomaddays); the people turned from him, bidding him to go to his own inheritance, Jerusalem. In vain any further appeal, in vain the attempt of Rehoboam's friend, Adoram, to pacify the people ! They stoned his messen-ger and flocked to the standard of the young rebel, Jero-boam. And there was nothing for Rehoboam to do but to flee ! Two tribes only'remained loyal to him, Judah and Benjamin.

Lesson Story for Juniors. -In the stories we hear at shool of English history there

are the names of some kings we would like to forget, because ofthe black record they have left. Suggest some ! Some began well, and through bad rule ended badly ; can you think of any who from the first acted so unwisely as to be failures from the beginning, e.g., Edward II., Richard II.

The king we heard of last week was no failure, but had not altogether succeeded. Recall Solomon and his impious acts which brought about the general dissatis-faction. Can you remember The hints of trouble that were given to him in his old age? They were very real, as you will see.

Now let us see if you can decide something which Solomon's young son Rehoboam Was asked to do before even being asked to beking. The people were dissatisfied, rebellious because of the bad treatment they had received, and so looking for a more lenient yet just. king. They came to Rehoboam and asked him what he would do as king. Would he lighten their burdens, or would he not? What would you have said?

Well, Rehoboam had three days in which to think out his answer, and in that time asked advice. First, he went to the old statesman who had worked with his father and asked them. Their reply was wise. " You, had better be cautious," they said, "give in to the people now and they will serve you ! " Then he asked his young friends what they would do. And they, glorying in their strength, and boastful of what they thought they could do, decided quite differently. " Don't you give in to these people," they said. " Show that you are stronger than they' are. Tell them that you will be even harder on them than your father was ! "

The day for Rehoboam's decision came, and the people flocked to hear what he would say. He had not been speaking long before black looks of anger gathered on their faces and murmurs of discontent arose on every side. For what was he saying ! (Read v. 14.) That was it, then ! Well, they would have no more of tyrants ! With the war cry, " To your tents, 0 Israel," they scat-tered hurriedly in all directions, leaving Rehoboam to see the results of his foolishness.

Too rate, he repented of his act, and hastily called his friends together to see if they could help him in recalling the people to his side. One of them consented to call a meeting, and to try to appease the people. But alas ! Re happened to he one of those who had been a tyrant

under Solomon, and the people, instead of listening to him, stoned him to death ! It was no use. Rehoboam was once for all rejected by the people, and already they were acclaiming another, Jeroboam, king in his place. A sad and disappointed man, Rehoboam had to go back to Jerusalem, and be content to rule over two tribes, Judah and Benjamin (show on map). The other ten tribes formed a new kingdom of their own, called Israel. So Solomon's glorious kingdom was split up, the result of selfishness and folly !

Suggestions for Seniors. , (1). Review the effect of the reign of Solomon on his

people ; let class suggest the mood in which they would greet the advent of anotherKing : it was but natural that with a new monarch they should desire remedy.

(2). Thus lead to the convention at Shechem, indicating what the people desired, and how far Rehoboam, Solo-mon's son, was likely to grant their wishes : Show how the presence of a possible rival, Jeroboam, heightened the importance of his dealings with the people there.

(3). 'The people's request ; Rehoboam's foolish answer, the result of young friends', advice : its disastrous result : the -division of the kingdom, Israel, Judah.

(4). The strength needed for right decisions ; its source ; its unfailing aid.

News of Our Churches. All communications sent by the halfpenny post for this

page should bear on the outside, distinctly written, the words "News for the Press," and should be directed to "The Editor, United Methodist,' 188 Rye Lane, Peck-ham, London, S.E.15." A number of communications have been surcharged through omitting to conform to these Post Office regulations. News should arrive not later than the FIRST delivery on Tuesday morning, and be written on one side of the paper or postcard only.

MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS. Rowe, Percy, leaves Okehampton next Conference,

after four years' service. Hopper, W. J., has declined a unanimous invitation to

remain a sixth year at the College Chapel, Manchester, as he desires to resume full circuit duty in Aug., 1920.

Meir, W. 0., has intimated his intention to leave the Hucknall Circuit in 1920, after four years' service.

Genner, E., Torrington, a fourth year.

LIVERPOOL. Young People's Demonstration.

THE Liverpool United Methodist Council arranged for the above to be held at Grove Street Chapel, on Wed-nesday, October 1st. There was a good .company to an excellent tea, and a conference over tea tables, led. by Rev. W. B. Hoult, M.A., B.D. Prof: F. C. Lea (Bir-mingham) should have presided over the evening meet:- ing, and the speakers were to be Revs. T. A. Jefferies and J. E. Langley, but none of them could get Through owing to the Railway Strike. The large audience took the disappointment . cheerfully, and a capital meeting was held, Mr. R. M. Adams presiding, Rev. W. Chad-wick speaking on "The Call of the New Era," and Rev. J. H. Burkitt on "The Power of Ideas." Solos and duets were rendered by Misses L: James, Lena Winter, C. Powleson, D. Ruddleston and Mr. A. Noden, all our own young people, with great acceptance. There was a gratifying attendance of Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and other young folks.

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. A Forward Move:

THE Newsactle East Circuit will, in 1921, attain its majority, having been formed in 1900 from the large and historic Newcastle Circuit. It has been felt for some time that the event should. be marked by some definite progress, and at a largely attended circuit meet-ing, the Superintendent Minister, Rev. Geo. Eayrs, 1-;.R.Hist.S., introduced a scheme of advance covering the next two years. (1) A continuous endeavour from now onwards, to -increase the membership of all the six churches from the'present number, 329 to 442, at least. This would be double the number of members when the circuit was formed. (2) An increase of Sunday School scholars, from 741 to 1,000, an increase of 356 on the number in 1900. (3) The extinction of all present trust debts, which 6n December 31st last were 4'1,365. (4) An increase of 100 per cent in Home and Foreign Mission contributions. The scheme was well discussed, and .most heartily adoptdd by the circuit meeting, and is now being submitted to. the various chur-ches. There is every indication that the work will be entered into enthusiastically, and brought to a successful issue, in the year .Newcastle entertains Conference.

NOTTINGHAM. THE annual gathering of the Central Circuit was held

in the Alfred Street Church, on Monday, Septernber 29th. A goodly number of friends sat down to tea. The Presi-dent of the Conference, Rev. John 'Moore, and Mrs. Moore, were present at the tea-tables. A public meeting in the chapel, was well attended by aq enthusiastic con-gregation. Rev. Francis Jones (superintendent) offered prayer. The chair was occupied by Mr. Cecil A. Godfrey, son of Mr. John . Godfrey, J.P., who gave an inspiring address. Rev. John Moore gave a speech full of true evangelistic fervour, and which was a means of grace to the hearers. A hearty welcome was extended to the new ministers, Revs. J. W. Thompson and T. E. Clarke, the latter of whom gave an earnest talk to the various Chris-tian Endeavour Societies of the circuit, which were well represented. The New Basford organist and choir led the singing of the meeting, and also rendered the anthem, " Send out Thy Light." Rev. J. W. Thompson and Rev

BETHEL'S

"ALL CLEAR" CALL FOR

E300 IMPORTANT.

Mr, WILSON'S FOURTEEN POINTS, 1. The church (late M.N.C.) has witnessed for right-

eousness 57 years in one of the most crowded districts of West London.

2. In 1871 the members were cruelly ejected, and the church damaged to prevent Its use for Divine worship. See " Story of Bethel," sent to all enquiring friends.

3. The late Drs. Cooke, Ward, Watts, and the most Influential ministers and laymen of the M.N.C. encouraged and supported the cause In early days.

4. A noble army of ministers and members have witnessed a good testimony for more than half a century.

5. The " All Clear " would relieve the anxiety of trustees, and make possible urgent improvements at little cost.

G. It is only by the generous aid of the M.N.C. and friends that the clearance of the last £300 Is within sight—after a total expenditure of £4,000.

7. The London Church Extension Committee has promised £45 if the whole amount is raised by the close of the year.

8. It Is believed that United Methodists, and particularly those who value the traditions of the late KU. will not suffer this appeal to be in vain.

9. The " All Clear " would be an Aot of Thanksgiving for the church's service and the scores of devoted men and women who have passed Into other circuits " to labour and to wait."

10. The suceess of this debt-clearing effort will be an Affectionate Memorial to those of sacred memory who have died In Peace and War.

11. Mr. Wilson has full confidence In the generosity of the friends who have been unexpectedly and exceptionally enriched In recent days, that they will not deny themselves the pleasure of helping so deserving a cause.

12. The President, President-Elect, and ex-President, along with ministers and laymen, commend this appeal, and wish it success.

13. There never was a church more fully Justified in its claim for help, or with a membership more loyal and devoted.

14. It is so wonderfully easy to call the " All Clear " when every interested friend reading this appeal at once responds by sending Treasury notes. postal orders and cheques to the Rev. G. A. Wilson, 19 Walham Grove, Fulham, SAVA who will gladly answer enquiries and gratefully acknowledge contributions.

PLEASE MAKE USE OF THIS FORM.

Accepting Mr. Wilson's " Fourteen Points," I

gladly send to call the

" ALL CLEAR."

To the Rev. G. A. WILSON, 19 Walham Grove, Fulham, London, S.W.6.

S H RU BSALL.—In loving memory of Frank Arthur Shrubsall, who died in Germany 10th October, 1918.

" God calls the loved ones from our homes, but never from our hearts."

SMEETH.—.-In ever-loving memory of our dear father, William John Smeeth, United Methodist minister,

who fell asleep at " Ferndale," Hambridge, October 2nd, 1917.

Peace, Perfect Peace.

.1•••■=111./

Artletlo Hand-written

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490

THE UNITED METHODIST, October' 9, 1919

G. Mellelieu gave brief addresses. This, proved one of the happiest and most profitable gatherings held for many years. The financial results also were very good.

WALLSEND. On Sunday morning, September 28th, a memo-

rial service for the thirteen men of the Church and Sunday School who fell in the war was conducted by Rev. T. W. 'Coleman (minister) in Carville Chapel. Dur-

-ing the service a beautiful stained glass window, provided by the .Church and Sunday School to commemorate the fallen, was unveiled by Mrs. G. F. Tweedy, of Jesmond. After unveiling the window, Mrs. Tweedy spoke moving words of appreciation of the noble sacrifice of the men who had fallen. The choir sang the anthem, "What are these arrayed in white robes? Mrs. E. Giles was the organist. In the minister's vestry before the service, Mr. John Burn (S.S. superintendent) presented to Mrs. Tweedy a specially bound copy of the order of service as a memento of the occasion. At' a thanksgiving service in the evening, conducted by the minister, the choir again rendered special music and a solo was sung by Mr. W. J. Taylor. At the end of the year a brass tablet is' to be erected containing the names of those who fell and served during the war. The day's offerings totalled 9s. 6d.

Anniversaries. Wigan (King Street).—The special preacher for the

63rd Sunday School anniversary was Rev. T. Sunderland, of Rochdale. At the afternoon praise service an address was given by Rev. J. Pickthall, M.A., B.D. (Congrega-tional), and a permanent memorial to the scholars and teachers who took part in the great war, giving the names of all who served and the photographs of the 15 who fell, was unveiled by two of the youngest scholars of the Primary Department. Mr. Sunderland gave his popular lecture, " John Bull in his Carpet Slippers," on the Mon-day evening. Collections.over

Harvest Festivals. Ashton-under-Lyne (Trafalgar Square).—Rev. Henry

James, the superintendent minister, preached in the morning. In the afternoon the choir rendered Gaul's cantata, "Ruth." The principals and Mr. E. C. Hewitt, choirmaster and organist, acquitted themselves well. At the evening service the new minister, Rev. J. Q. Pye, preached with power. The congregations at all the ser-vices were excellent. On the Monday evening Rev. J. C. Pye delivered a lecture on " Billy Bray," the Cornish miner, and Miss Marjorie Pye gave two recitals. Mr. (George Blyth presided. The collections- were a record, being about £33.

Blyth (Cramlington Colliery).—On Thursday, October 2nd, Rev. W. G. Peck preached an able" sermon. A fine !spiritual tone prevailed throughout the service. On the Saturday and Sunday, Rev. J. B. Cook (former minis-ter) was the preacher. Good congregations. Services very helpful.

Brighton (Old Shoreham Road).—The newly-appointed minister, Rev. S. E. Harper, Hon. C.F., preached both morning and evening. In the afternoon, a cantata, "Day and Night," was rendered by the Stanford Avenue Choir. The services were splendidly attended. On Monday evening, Mr. Harper gave a most interesting Lecture on "With the Troops in Defeat and Victory." Miss Margaret Hardy took the chair. The schoolroom was quite full, and the Harvest Services were indeed a record. The collections amounted to £18, thus doubling last year's offerings.

Brixton (Paradise Road).—Rev. R. W. Gair conducted the services. At the close of the evening service Mr. J. Allanson Benson's sacred cantata, "A Song of Thanks-giving," was excellently rendered by the choir and orches-tra of 50 performers, under the conductorship of Mr. F. Byard. A social gathering was held on the-Monday. Col- lections 16s. 8d.

Derby (Becket Street).—The. preacher was Rev. J. E. Mackintosh, the newly-appointed. pastor. Appropriate anthems were rendered by the choir, who also made them-selves responsible for a musical service in the afternoon. The services were very helpful and financially were a record.

King's Cross Mission (Charlotte Street).—Very inspir-ing- services on the Sunday, conducted by Rev. T. Walker, B.D. in the morning and by our pastor in the evening: A delightful cantata was rendered by the childre'n in the afternoon. The music given by the choir and orchestra was very _helpful. Monday musical programme, presided over by Mr. T. H. Ashelford. 'congregations were good. Financial result £14 5s.

Leeds (Trinity, Tempest Road).—Preachers, Revs. C. B. Johnson, F. J. Hadfield, and Walter Cooper. Dr. Waintnan was the speaker on the Monday night. The congregations were excellent and the services rich with inspiration. Collections, 5s, an increase of

Lees (Zion).—Rev. D. Patterson and the Pastor, Rev. F. J. Lindley, 'were the preachers. Anthem by the choir at both services, conducted by Mr. J. S. Johnson. Col-lections L15.

Leicester (Hill Street).--Preacher, Rev. A. Price Hughes (Wesleyan) and Rev. J. A. Clark (Pastor). There were good congregations. The choir rendered special music. On the Monday, a recital was given by Miss Edith J. Cart ; soloist, Mr. F. W. Botham ; chairman, Mr. J. H. Ward. Proceeds in advance of last year.

Liverpool (St. Domingo).—Rev. W. Chadwick ,preached morning and evening, and Mr. W. Lewis con-'ducted a united service for the School and Bible Class in the afternoon, with Mr. A. G. Cannell in the chair. In

the afternoon and evening the Church was quite full. On Monday Mr. R. M. Adams presided. The financial result of the services reached L28, being double last year and the highest amount for ten years past.

Liverpool (Hamilton Road).—Preachers, Revs. W. B. Hoult, M.A. B.D., and' H. Gaunt. Young People's

,Meeting in the afternoon, addressed by -Mr. J. R. Remer, M.P. ; chairman, Mr. H. Pickering. Congregations most encouraging, and services excellent. A Faith Tea, an Monday, was largely attended. and greatly enjoyed. Total proceeds £19—a record for harvest services.

Manchester, North (.Salem).—Services full of joy and inspiration. Revs. A. Bamforth and G. W. Potter were the preachers. In the afternoon scholars gave a delightful rendering of Root's cantata, " The Festival of the Flowers. ' A concert on the Monday evenind, arranged by Mrs. Birch, was well attended. Proceeds £26 6s. 8d.

Nottingham (Alfred Street). — Very successful. Preacher, Rev. Francis Jones. Musical service in the afternoon. Soloists, Miss Marjorie Walker, L.R.A.M., A.R.A.M., and Madam Gladys Searson. Anthems by.the choir. Chairman, Mr. W. B. Baggaley, J.P, Collections

14s. On Monday evening a welcome home was giVen to the men returned from the war. A meat tea was provided, after which a concert was held. Responses were given by several of the " Boys." Chairman, Mr. Wm. Bancroft.

Oxford.—Rev. C. Hobbs (Baptist) and Rev. W. Bowell were the preachers for the day. The services throughout the day were bright and much appreciated by all who attended.

Penzance ( Heam oor). —The harvest festival has proved a record. Under the excellent leadership of the new minis- ter (Rev. J. W. Lowe) was raised.

l'Inmstead.—On• the Saturday afternoon a "faith " tea was held, and in the evening the choir, assisted by several friends, rendered the sacred cantata "Under the Palms." The preachers on the Sund4 were Revs. H. J. Christmas and Rev. A. Hancock. In the afternoon a service for'young people was held in which a large num-ber of the Shnday School scholars took part. Mr.- Kemp, a well known member of the Church of England, pre-sided on Monday, and the speaker was the Rev. R. Ross, M.A., Vicar of All Saints', Plumstead, and a personal friend of the pastor of the church. All the gatherings were very well attended, and the collections were better than they have been for many years. The choir (under the leadership of Mr. Shorter) gave special music at all the services, and Mr. M. V. Fisher presided at the organ.

Portsmouth (Brougham Road).—The services .broke the record. Sermons were preached by Revs. H. C. Putt and S. Louis Warne. In the afternoon Mr. F. C. Garr presided over a musical service ; soloists, Mrs. Rowse and Mr. F. Parker. Anthems by the choir. On the Monday evening the choir rendered Gaul's cantata, " Ruth." Mr?. Baker was in the chair, and Mr. Seager at the organ. Soloists, Misses E. White, K. M. Warne, L.T.C.L., and Radstock, and Mr. W. Bailey. Proceeds £21.

Radstock.—Most successful services in the. history of the Church.' Conducted by Rev. S. C. Heard. In the afternoon a musical service was given by the choir under the leadership of Mr. 13. C. Catley. Monday evening social provided by the Young Women's and Young Men's Bible Classes, chairman Rev. S. C. Heard. The proceeds totalled 4'42 13s., ld., being an excess over last year of £15.

Seaham Harbour.—Morning preacher, Mr. J. F. Foggin. Musical Service in the afternoon. Rev. J. R. Herron, Circuit Minister, gave an address. In the eve-ning, Mr. Herron preached to a large congregation. Specail singing by choir, under the leadership of Mr. J. W. Kelly. Organist, Mrs. Kelly. Monday, Enter-tainment. Proceeds over j720.

Sheffield (Sharrow Lane).—Preachers, Rev. E. Har-land Brine and Rev. W. E. Perry. The'choir gave a ser-vice of song in the afternoon. On Monday, following a public tea, the choir rendered excellent service by a per-formance of the cantata, " Day and Night." Mr. D. F. Hogan presided. Collections over £20.

Thornton Heath (Moffatt . Road).—The preacher both morning and evening was Rev. T. B. Davenport, resident minister. -The choir rendered special anthems. The fol-lowing evening the chairman was Mr. W. P. Neden and a very appropriate address was given by Rev. C. H. Poppleton.

Torrington.—The celebration has been partiCularly successful. The pastor (Rev. E. Genner) was the prea-cher. At night the chapel was parked, and there were good attendances at the other services and meetings. An excellent musical service was given in the afternoon. The financial proceeds amounted to over £23—a record on last year's record.

General. Birmingham (Rocky Lane).—Most successful peace

celebrations have been conducted. On the Saturday over 200 soldiers and friends had substantial tea and supper together, and were afterwards entertained. On the Sun-day Rev. A. Tattersall (Bristol) took morning, afternoon, and night services. Madame May Reekes was the soloist at the P.S.A. and Mr. F. Dickinson • at the evening ser-vice. On Monday and Tuesday there was Vgiven by the scholars a pageant of peace, with processions of the Allied Nations in character and song. 'The following Saturday a free tea was given to the scholars, with social and games. On the Sunday following thanksgiving ser-vices were conthicted morning, afternoon, and evening, by Rev. J. H. Phillipson and Captain Smith, of the Salvation Army, many solos and pieces being given by the choir. The celebrations have been a great success, crowded audiences having come to show their thanks for the successful termination of the war.

Bradford (Otley Road).—A " Welcome Home " was recently given to the " Boys " connected with the Church who have been demobilised and discharged. A' sumptuous tea was provided, to which about 20 of the Boys and their friends sat down along with members of the Church and congregation. The evening meeting was presided over by

Mr. Binner, who spoke of the fortunate position they Were in as regards the return of the Lads, as they had lost but two out of the total number who joined up, namely, Bro. W .L. Bower, who was a prominent worker in connection with the Band of Hope, and Private W. Priestley, to. the, relatives and friends of whom words of sympathy were expressed. Mr. Cock-croft, on behalf of the Sunday School, and Mr. Slade, on behalf of the Church, also addressed the gathering. Mr. Harry Exley and Mr. Wedgbury replied on behalf of the guests. During the evening an excellent concert was given, arranged by the Boys, and refreshments were served. Mrs. Binner un-veiled a framed photograph of the' Boys, the gift of the Women's Meeting.

Clitheroe.—The Annual Circuit Gathering was held on Wednesday, October 1st. Awing to the Railway Dispute, Rev. G. Hooper, of Barrow, was unable to be present. Rev. Cecil D. Eades (Wesleyan) kindly con-sented to fill his place. In the afternoon he preached a most helpful sermon. In the evening, Mr. Eades gave a lecture on "The Church and, Industrial Problems," and the audience were given ,something, to think about for marry a long day to come... Mr. W. H. Hopwood pre-sided, and it was pleasing to see all the local ministers of the town in the pulpit,' supporting the .chairman. - C,Irosshills.—Circuit Young People's Demonstration held at Skipton. Councillor James Hartley presided. SpeCial music by a -united choir of the churches, and solos by Mrs. Conyers and Mr. G. Wiggan. Mr. Docker conductor, Mr. Tom Pickles, organist. Addresses by Rev. M. Campbell (Silsden) and Rev. F. H. J. Thorn- ton. An inspirational gathering. Guild- Anniversary preacher, Rev.- F. H. J. Thornton. Special anthems. Good congregations. Collection 7s.

Exeter (Queen Street).—The _Circuit is paying the new minimum salaries from this (September) quarter.

Forest Hill and East Dulwich.—A Convention for Sun-day School workers and others engaged among young people was held on Saturday afternoon last at Trinity Church. Rev. J. H. Squire; B.A., B.D., was in the chair, and three ten-minutes papers were given as follows :-(1) "How to secure a closer connection between the. Sun-day School and the Church," by Mr. H. C. Raxworthy (Waverley Park) ; (2) "The Advantages of -Grading," by Mr. H. J. Richardson (St. James's) ; and (3) "The Ideal Teacher," by Mr. F. Cross (Bellenden Road). After tea a public meeting was presided over by Rev. Harold. Reed and Rev. T. A. Jefferies, F.L.S. (Connexional Young People's Secretary), gave a profitable address on "The New Army," dealing with the problems of workers. A most enjoyable Convention was closed by remarks from Rev. J. H. Squire, B.A., B.D.

Gateshead (Durham Road).—Some time ago a Wel-. come Home to thirty members of this Church and School - who had returned from H.M. Forces was held. The pro-ceedings commenced with a short service of thanksgiving in the Church, conducted by the Pastor, Rev. Geo. Langley. The company afterwards adjourned to the Lec-ture Flail, where supper was provided, followed by a

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

at the uniform price -of 2s., 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 nu+ later than Tuesday 9 a.m

R E PORTS of Marriages, etc., intended for insertion in the Editorial Columns MUST be accompanied by a firefiaid advertisement. '

MARRIAGES. C ROMACK—WEBSTER, —On September 24th, 1919,

at Zion U.M. Church, Kirkstall, Leeds, by the Rev. E. Ratcliffe, Albert, youngeSt son of the late . Mr. A. and Mrs. J. A. Cromack, New Wortley, to Annie, youngest daughter of Mr. I. and the late Mrs. M. E. Webster, Oriel Dene, Kirkstall.

HAWKI NS —HO LC ROFT.--On Thursday, September 25th, 1919, at Salem Church, Cheslyn Hay, by Rev.

John Naylor, Laurence Cecil Hawkins, second son of Mr. and Mrs Henry Hawkins, of ".The Park," Cheslyn Hay, to Marion T. Holcroft, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Holcroft, High Street, Cheslyn Hay.

MILLER—SMITH, — On Saturday, September 27th, 1919, at the United Methodist Church, Ilford, by

the Rev. J. Boden, Reginald, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Miller, of Chadwell Heath, to Daisy, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. Paget Smith, of Ilford.

DEATH. 0 RMEROD. —On September 25th, 1919, at 56 Mexbro

Drive, Leeds, William Edward Ormerod, for over 50 years an officer in connection with Lady Lane Central Mission and Sunday School, and for many years secretary and treasurer of the Leeds Sunday School Union. In-terred Lawnswood Cemetery,,September 27th.

e•■■■■•■

IN MEMORIAM.

Tolkacaves to the serylce o, 'e Ovmfiro.Acricknt.Dirmiafel / OUR WORK ,aeurityagagitrada.

OWL PARTICULARS FROM TIM MAIM= 56,OLD BAILEY.LCINDON,E.C.4.

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THE STORY OF THE MAO

By Rev.

SAM POLLARD.

This entrancing story deals with the work of our Mlao Mission In South-West China, and is written in Mr. Pollard's own inimitable style. It should command a large sale. Only a limited edition has been printed, and a second edition will not be issued until cost of production comes down.

Cloth 2/6 net. Paper Covers 2/- net. Postage 3d. extra.

.7f you have not secured' a copy you soou1d order at once.

LONDON : HENRY HOOKS, 12 FARRINGDON AVENUE, E.C.4,

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October 9, 1919

THE UNITED METHODIST. 491

-social evening. A copy of the Church Hymnal, suitably inscribed, was presented to each of the demobilised men. No fewer than sixteen of our number have made the supreme sacrifice. To perpetuate their memory a memo-rial pulpit is being erected. This is in carved English oak, and on the front panels the names of the fallen will be inscribed in letters of gold. The church is -also being re-decorated.

Hackney (Pembury Grove).—A very excellent concert was given last week under the direction of Miss Winifred Martyn (Mrs. Fred Rowe). The following artistes kindly gave their services : Miss Francis Jenkins, L.R.A.M. Miss Emilie Baker, Mr. Charles Pope, Mr. Fred Hawley. Pianoforte duets by Miss Winifred Martyn and Miss • Mary Sergeant. Miss • Winifred Martyn also gave two piano solos, and acted as accompanist throughout. Through the Railway Strike, Mrs. Fred Nish (of Pinner) was unable to take part. Rev. H. Walker Slott (pastor), .kindly filled up the vacancies in the programmes by giving two recitations in his finished -elocutionary style. The whole programme was of a very high order, and was greatly appreciated by a crowded -audience. Rev. J. H. Blackwell (District Chairman), presided. The proceeds on behalf of the church funds exceeded

Huddersfield (Berry Brow).—The 84th annual Love-feast was held at Salem Church, on Monday, Sept. 22nd. The day on which the Lovefeast is held has ceased to be the chief local holiday, nevertheless the Church was quite `filled. It was good to be there. Many testimonies were given to the fact that the Saviour's touch has still its ancient power. Rev. M. M. Todd presided. After some 250 people had sat down to tea, a lecture was given by Rev. Frank H. -Chambers, O.B.E., Hon. C. F., entitled

-"With British Heroes in the Balkans." A large audi-ence listened with deep interest to a story of hardships and heroism of which comparatively little is known. Mr. G. 'Mitchell presided.

Huddersfield '(Primrose Hill).—Rev. George iEayrs, F.R.Hist.S., a former minister, paid a welcome visit on Wednesday, Sept. 24th. In the afternoon, he preached to a good congregation and in the evening he gave his popular lecture,-" John Wesley, the Man, Worker, Lover, and Saint." A number of portraits, autograph letters, etc., excited much interest. Mr. A. Tunnacliffe presided; and there was a large audience. The lecture , was thoroughly enjoyed.

Manchester (Gorton).—Last Thursday Rev. Frank and Mrs. Hanesworth were given a hearty welcome on their coming to the circuit. Mr. F. Galloway presided, and words of welcome were spoken by Mr. J. Pickup, Mr. J.

R. Firth, and Mr. W. L. Docksey. Miss Elsie Stapleford rendered two solos. The Rev. Frank Hanesworth replied on behalf of himself and Mrs. Hanesworth.

Torrington.::-Chairman, Rev. E. Genner. The mini-mum salary and new assessment circular considered, and an appeal to the members and congregation was decided upon. The weekly offerings and class moneys strewed another advance, being larger than for many years past.

Quarterly Meetings. Boamin.—New ministers heartily welcomed. Income

very gratifying. It was decided to adopt the new mini-mum salary proposals, the first payment to be made at this meeting. A hearty vote was taken in favour of continuing negotiations with a view of uniting the two circuits. A Circuit Young People's Committee was ap-pointed. Each church in the circuit urged to do all within its power towards deepening interest in the great things of the soul. Resolution heartily passed advising trustees to consent to the use of schoolrooms during the week in the best interests of the young people in the way of providing counter-attractions to the public hoUse and the cinema. An evening meeting was addressed by the ministers. Mr. Trevail in the chair.

Newcastle East.—Rev. G. Eayrs presided. 4n. in- crease -of five members. Balance in hand. Encouraging reports given by representatives from the six churches. Mr. R. N. Laverick was thanked for his efficient ser-vices as circuit officer and local preacher, on transfer-ence to a neighbOuring circuit. A grant to Seaton Burn in aid of Trust debt extinctions was reported.

Northlew, Okehampton.—Hearty-welcome given to the .chairman, Rev. R. James. New minimum salary and increased assessments cordially accepted. Rev. P. Rowe announced he would be leaving the circuit at the Con-ference of 1920, after four years. The meeting at night was crowded, and addresses were given by Revs. R. James and P. Rowe. Mr. J. Smallacombe presided. The tone throughout was good, and- things look promising for the future.

St. Just.—Rev. A. H. Hicks presided. Message of sympathy sent to widow and• friends of late Mr. N. Nicho-las. Young People's Connexional circular discussed. Stipend increased to £200, and half quarter paid. New Connexional levy accepted. Minister and circuit stewards-to form a committee to arrange the necessary new as-sessment for the circuit. Balance in hand. nearly £23.

Stourbridge.—Chairman, Rev. W. H. Cockersole. Collections to be made in every church for the Sustenta-tion Fund. The new scale of assessments was accepted, and the new minimum salary is to be paid at the same rate as if there were two ministers. A Circuit Committee is to be formed from all the Sunday Schools, to direct the work among young people. Mr. T. R. Shotton was re-ceived as a fully-accredited local preacher. Members as last quarter and a balance in hand.

Wedding.

HAWKINS—HOLCROFT.

A crowded congregation assembled at Salem Church, Cheslyn Hay, on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 25th, for the marriage of Laurence Cecil Hawkins, son of .Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hawkins, of " The Park," Cheslyn Hay, to Marion T. Holcroft, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Hol-croft, of High-street, Cheslyn Hay. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J. Naylor. The bride wore a dress of ivory crepe de Chine, embroidered in pearls and silver, with veil and orange blossom, kindly lent by Mrs. Henry Hawkins. She carried a shower bouquet of white car-nations and roses. There were three bridesmaids—Misses Mary Sherratt, May Holcroft, and Marjorie Hawkins—who wore dresses of mauve crêpe de Chine, with veils of mauve tulle falling from wreaths of pink leaves. They also carried bouquets of pink carnations, and wore gold brooches, the gifts of the bridegroom. The bridegroom was attended by Mr. Wilfred Hawkins (cousin) as best man, and Lieut. Harold Hawkins (cousin) and Lieut. Wm. Naylor as groomsmen. The service was fully choral, and Mr. Arnold S. Hawkins presided at the organ, and played suitable wedding music.

A reception was afterwards held at Salem Sunday _School, the guests numbering about 80. Later in the day the happy couple left for Blackpool, where the honeymoon is being spent. There was a large number of beautiful presents. Both the bride and bridegroom are good workers in connection with our Church at Cheslyn Hay, and many good wishes follow them.

SPIRITUALISM has recently obtruded itself rather promi-nently, and the Religious Tract Society is issuing three pamphlets on the subject. Mr. 'Coulson Kernahan writes one entitled, " Spiritualism : a Personal Experience and a Warning." Another is by the Rev. C. C. Dobson, Vicar of St. Peter's, Paddington, entitled, " Modern Spiritual-ism under the Bible Searchlight." And tfie third on "The Fascination and Danger of Spiritualism," is by the Rev. R. Gillie, M.A.

—7'

EDITORIAL—The Church and the Highways. RELIGION AND THE NEW OUTLOOK.

By Rev. Bruce H. White.

MEN AND WOMEN OP WORTH IN UNITED METHODISM. Rev. B. A. Coombe (Portrait).

- Councillor C. J. Rich, of Pontypool (Portrait). THE HUMOUR OF C-IURCH LIFE.

The Humour of the Pew and the Prayer Meeting. By Rev. S. Horton.

"SAMMY" COLES (Illustrated). PARADE SERVICES. By Rev. F. H. Chambers,

Hon. C.F., O.B.E.

IN 'GREEN PASTURES. By Rev. J. E. Mackintosh.

THE EFFICIENT CHURCH. Attaching the Young to the Church.

By Rev. Cuthbert Ellison.

TWO POINTS OF VIEW. By A.D.B. WITH SIGNALS CLEAR. (Serial Story.)

By Ramsay Guthrie. CALLED HOME.

REV. WILKINSON MATTHEWS. IN BOOKLAND. By Rev. J. G. B. Corin. FOR OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.

By Rev. J. B. Brooks.

The United Methodist Magazine. CONTENTS FOR OCTOBER.

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. Goods that will cost nearly double in December.

Note the address, J. E, DIXON, 142 Oakbrook Road, Sheffield.

Stainless Steel Pocket Knife, 2 blades, great novelty and a present appreciated by a man ; splendidly ground and the blades always bright as silver. Price 8/6, and will secure the friendship of any man.

Small Stainless Steel Knives. suitable for the kitchen sink or for the workman's lunch basket ; never rust. 21- each.

Stainless Game Carvers 18/6 pair, worth 25/- Address below.

Dainty Stainless Steel Afternoon Tea Knives; the most appreciated present obtainable for the wife at Christmas : handles white ivorine. and real silver ferrules ;engraved engraved '`A.D." in black on handles. Also several other initials, errors in engraving. Six for 33/6 ; worth much more.

Al Nickel Silver Dessert Forks, 5/3 per doz., Spoons same price. Tea Spoons 3/3, Table Forks 8/3 per

doz., Table Spoons 2/11 pair. Absolutely finest quality obtainable anywhere. List free.

Dessert Knives. nickle-plated handles, bargain lot, d/3 per doz. Shop price 25/6 doz. Sample 1/3,

The finest Safety Shaving Outfit made, Sold every-where at a guinea. This, or a Stainless Pocket Knife (or both) is the most suitable present a male can have. A few only Of these shaving outfits left. Price 5/3, Thousands have been sold at 21/. each.

Gillette pattern Safety Razor, 1/6 post free. Three free blades enclosed. '

Pre-War Bargains. Eight sets only, 3-piece Carvers (Knife, Fork and Steel) white ivorine handles, to clear 14/6 per set. Would cost 25/- in a shop to-day. Ex-cellent quality.

Scissors.-290 pairs, 5 to 7 inches, 2/9 pair, shop price 4/6.

Magnificent Tea Set £3 10s„ 2 pint capacity Teapot, Cream and Sugar ; 20 years wear as silver. only 2 sets at this figure . Shop price anywhere £6 10s. (Shop-keepers invited to write for particulars).

Case of six Afternoon Tea Knives. with hall-marked silver handles and E.P.N.S. blades ; entire handle sterling silver ; shop price two guineas—our amazing offer, knives and case, 25/- only. Splendid present.

Magnificent six bottle Cruet, made specially for a Countess, very heavily plated, £5. No shop on earth

-has a finer cruet for sale at any price. -

Six pairs Fish Eaters. E. P.N.S., splendid quality, neat pattern, 19/6. Cannot he repeated.

J. E. DIXON, 142 Oakbrook Road, Sheffield. (A business founded on merit. United Methodist"

• friends everywhere).

Price, THREE HALFPENCE.

LANTERN LECTURES BUREAU. NORTH, EAST, & WEST CHINA;

EAST & WEST AFRICA. Hiring Fee and Insurance for Slides and

Lecture, 1/3 each evening. Carriage paid both ways by Hirer. Send for list.

For booking apply to Rev. W. BILINIIIDGI, 42 Tolver Road, Penzance.

For Chinese and African Costumes and Mis-sionary. Curiosities apply to Miss STACRY, 15 !Unmoor Crescent, Sheffield.

All enquiries must include rely postage. THE "MONTHLY VISITOR."

4 page illustrated Gospel Tract. Adapted for localising. October : The God of Peace." November: " The King's Highway."

ls. per hundred and postage (100 4d.). App'y to R. Henderson Smith, 68 Hanover Street, Edinburgh.

Monthly, FOURPENCE. The Missionary Echo. CONTENTS POR OCTOBER.

SOME CHINESE FUNERAL CUSTOMS. Prin. Chapman.

AN EMPEROR'S PRAYER. THROUGH THE SECRETARY'S

FIELD-GLASSES. Rev. C. Stedeford. HEATHEN WOMANHOOD.

The Prayer Union. HOME MISSIONS IN CHINA. "OUR BRITISH LION." Miss E. TAYLOR. MISSIONARY TACT. ZENANA WORK. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW IN WENCHOW.

Rev. W. R. Stobie. A MISSIONARY MEDITATION.

Rev. E. F. 11. Capey. CHINESE CHARACIIIR-WRITING.

Rev. Li Ngan Su. JAPANESE ATROCITIES IN KOREA. SYRIA AND PALESTINE RELIEF FUND. ABORIGINALS OF QUEENSLAND. " WAKE WORLD I THINK WORLD I"

Herman Hadgehorn. OUR WOMEN'S AUXILIARY.

Mrs. J. A. Dobson. Letters from Mrs. Hicks, Rev. P. J. Dymond

and Miss Armitt. HUMOURS OF SERVICE IN CHINA.

25 words for Is. and one Halfpenny for each additional word. Three Insertions for price of two.

"WELCOME THE BOYS HOME."

THE design is most artistic, embodying the figure of Britannia surrounded by the Flags of all the

Allies, and is reproduced in many colours, on stout paper. Space is provided for the name of the recipient, his Regiment or Ship, and also for the Signature of the Minister or other-Church Officer. It will make a beautiful

picture. Size 11 by 15. Suitable for framing.

ORDER YOUR COPIES NOW.

Price 1 /6 net each.

Post free, 1 /1 0, packed in Tube.

HENRY HOOKS, FARRINODON AVENUE, LONDON, E.C. I.

An Illuminated Token of Welcome and Gratitude for

presentation to Soldiers and Sailors now returning from

Active Service in the Great War for Liberty, 1914-1919.

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STAINER LEADS! others fOilOW

0 offering the finest value in the Country. 0

HIGHEST QUALITY & ALL BRITISH MAKE. Style 3. A beautiful Piano, with all latest improvements, exquisite tone - 60 Gns.

O Style 4. One of the finest Upright Grands, perfect tone and touch 63 Gns. 0 Style 6. Overstrung, ivory keys, tone like a horizontal Grand - 72 Gns. Style 2. A limited number only. Iron frame, check action, splendid tone 52 Gns.

Also a number of good Second-hand Pianos, 30 to 75 Gns. All thoroUghly renovated and in perfect condition.

If you want a

OD PIA Write now for Robert Stather's Lists,

0 0 - ROBERT STATE-1ER, TAITSIPCRAELMITLITIT:PIEWITITAKER, - -=---- Established 1870. 187 Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, London, 11.4.

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0 WRITE NOW FOR LISTS.

NOTE.-Intending purchasers of Second-hand Organs or Pianos will greatly assist by stating their exact requirements, and as near as possible the price they wish to pay.

- =- Post Free to any Address. :7=-

0 --=

Forest Nato- Kettering Road... Corner of Romford Road - -Plaid Read Near Forest Gate Station -. flonaing Town-ShIrley Street Bottom of Ratkbone Street Plaistow-Harald Road... Neer Plaistow Station .- - Ilford-Word Lane South of Ilford Station ... grays-Hew Road .. Enquire at Grays Station - Maser Park-Romford Road ... Near Manor Park Broadway ... East Nast-Nigh Street. N. ... Right of East Hank Station ... Weateldf-es-Ses... ... Leigh Road (nr. corner of Argyll Road)

Chalkwell Park, Eastwood Lane ... Kings Richt of Seven Kings Station...

FICONMERIC 401-/LOPM CIRCUIT. Rev. W. B. CHIVEIRS, Rev. R STRONG M.A., B.Litt. SISTER ETHEL MAC KENZIE Riv. J. HIGMAN Rev. J. RODEN Rev. J. W. KITCHING Rev. H. WILLIAMS Rev.P. GALPIN Rev. W. J. REDMORE' Rev. W. J. RED MORE (supervision) Rev. J. H. SQUIBB, B.A.,

•••

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009

Ones Southesi-asottii.Villas ... Eastern Esplanade, Southend Rev. WATSON. T. J. WATSON Services commence at 11 a.m. and 6.30 II.W1 Visi/ors receive a heir!" weirnms.

BLACKPOOL -Mrs. J,- H. Aisley, Trafford • House, 42 Charnley Read. Public and Private Apartments. Near Central Station and Sea. U. M.

BLACKPOOL -Mrs. McAuliffe, Long Eaton . House, North Shore. Over-looking sea and cliffs. Apartments. Board optional. OLD COLWYN, N. WALES - Com- . fortable Sunny Apartments, pleasantly situated. five minutes. Sea and Station. Well recommended. Moderate terms. -Mrs. Mead Lucas, " Kenilworth," 1 Fair Mount. PIESTATYNg N. -WALES. !Iota= It• foil, kills and esa.---Itisses Mellor. " Werneth.'°

U.M.

SOUTHPORT - WIiLNECbi /Mhz, 16 Portland Street. Public and Private Apartments, near Lord Street and Promenade Per terms apply-Mies Dyson SOUTHPORT■ CLAREMONT PRIVATE

• HOTEL. A large High-class Boarding House, commanding a magnificent: view of the sea and promenade. Moderate terms.-Mary Champness.

SOUTHPORT (MATLOCK HOUSE, 60 Bath- Stree0-Apartments (public and

private); near Prem., Lord Street, churches. Methodist: home highly recommended by ministers ; piano. bath: invalids specially studied ; moderate terms. Stamp,. Mrs. Hall.

ST. ANNES-ON-SEik and M- s vete Apartments.

New son and golf links Snaky aspect. cisme is statlen.-Misses Pedzus and Richards, " Beethoven."' 64 St. Andrew's~Read. Read. S.

WORTHING -Board-Residence in bright and . comfortable house mid-day

dinner. For terms enclose stamp to Kenilworth, 6. Browning Road.

Victoria Avenue,

Tits Clagnadot Custard()

SUPPORT YOUR BOOK ROM. Sunday School Rewards and Requisites at

lowest prices Catalogues free on request. Your order, however small, Is earnestly solicited

by

U.M. PUBLISHING HOUSE, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C.

--pKAUTICAL Ph.C.)01, of the value of " Nos- TROLINIC " Nasal Specific awaits every

victim of Nasal Catarrh, Influenza, Head Colds, and Sore Throat who will give it a trial. Use it daily for health and comfort of nose and throat. Of leading Chemists everywhere. 1/3 (by post -1/5), from Nostroline Laboratories, Clifton, Bristol.

492, THE UNITED METHODIST. October 9, 191k

Geo. M. HAMMER & Co.,Lti. Itstsibidsked MEL 'Phone Min sera

mannnaciatosnas irrirair DiennaizeTsalli ei eiteRcH to=airass,n2retanistmbees erns, tanassatatt

FURNITURE tr.= ,Mre "Ink 311"'"bilei 3"1"1.

torafrpoms 430 STRAND, W.C. charct,71... row

ADVERTISE YOUR WANTS in the UNITED METHODIST.

ALL COMMUNICATIONS RESPECTING ADVERTISEMENTS should be addressed to. the ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER, " United Methodist,"

PADDINGTON.

CORY'S HOTEL, 7 and 8 SPRING BERT. War Quart Tut CISSITUAL.

Two nnbantei to Metrepolitaat and Central Lawton swung BEDROOM (inoluding light and attendenoo): Nadu, from 2/6. • Double, from 41-. Tasesauusas saso Pa.sat :wren. man/ PORTIA. Tatman', "nears Koval.. .tweeter, W3 J. COWL 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C.4,

Hoe Grammar School, Plymouth Principal: G. P. DYMOND, M.A.

Vice-Principal : 'F. J, DYMOND, B.Sc., With Full Staff of Well-qualified Teachers. Latest Successes include : London Matric-ulation, Senior Oxford Local (3 First Class Honours, July, 1918), Naval Clerkships (3rd place) Sandhurst (1st place), and many minor successes.

Every Accommodation for Boarders.

PREACHERS FOR OCT. 12th. LONDON.

not Clapham Junotion (Mallinson Road)-11 a.m.. C. ; . H. Buxton 6.30 p.m., Supply. Clapham Park (Park Crescent)-11 a.m., H. J. Ball ;

p.m., E. Bennett. 6.30 p. tt. Stockwell (Paradise Road)-11 a.m., R. W. Gair ;, 6.30 p.m., R. W. Gair. Fulham (Walham Grove)-11 a.m., C. W. Soper ; 6.30 p.m., F. V. Milton. Fulham (Munster Road)-11 a.m., B. W. Hird ; 6.30

p.m., - Thornborough. West Kensington-Ebenezer (North End Road)-11 a.m., E. P. Fothergill ; 6.30 p.m.. C. W. Soper. West Kensington-Bethel (North End Road)-11 G. A. Wilson ; 6.30 p.m.. G. A. Wilson. Westminster (Vauxhall Bridge Road)-11 J. H, Palmer; 6.30 p.m.. G. Britton Newington--Brunswick (Great Dover Street)-11 C. W. Mann: 6.30 p.m., C. W. Mann.

Individual Communion Cups For Lists of PATENT " IDEAL " OUTFITS and SAMPLES ON APPROVAL, carriage free. write

to the Makers

Townshends, Ltd., Birmingham.

Monks `Moves'.' Bath Chairs. All kinds for in or out-door use. State requirements fully. Lists free.

U.M. MONK & CO., BATH. Original Beth Chair Factory. Est. 60 years. MISCELLANEOUS.

64- IrAVO IlLS)( 1‘THIE4111T2dH fittlidA 1.f4oir) one.- TRIMNELL. TRIMNELL. The Herbalist, 144 Richmond Road, Cardiff Established len.

°! HE HOUSE AND CHURCH DECORATOR, • F. SYxns, 341 Skircoat Green Road, Halifax.-Choice selection of Wall and Ceiling Papers always stocked. Latest suggestions for decorating. BAZAAR.-lf you are holding a sale of work, we

will provide a stall of goods yielding good profit without risk.-Write for particulars. U.M,, 46 Wilson Street, Finsburv. E.C. 2. London MADE FROM THE PUREST HERBS. MaeCallum's Kidney and Bladder Pills. For Lumbago, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Backache, difficult, scanty, and involuntary Urination, Gravel. Gout, Dropsy, and all Kidney and Bladder affections. Price 2s. 'lid. post free. MacCallum, 28 Ramsden Dock Road. Barrow. OUR CHURC*4.-Being a brief account for 'Le young people of the United Methodist Church, its government and doctrines. By the Rev. E. C. Urwin, B.A., B.D. Price lid. Postage ld. - Henry Hooks, 12 Parringdon Avenue. Londnn. E.C.4. 10n ECONOMICAL RECIPES, 1/6 post free. k../ Coal Saving Powder, Fire I.ighters, Glazing Linen, Renewing Batteries, Electro Plating, Boot Polishes, Cough Candy, Fishing Bait. etc.-Gleave, 11 Mawbey Street. London. S.W g. DUPLICATORS, GELATIN E, FILM •"' Stencil, Clay. -The Compo- Lithograph Co.. 28 Kingsland Road. London, E.2.

BOYS' GAMES.-If any Churches have game.; not being used. they will be gratefully received by the Superintendent of the Pigott Street W.M. Lads' Guild.-Addrecs 32 Ocilla Street. London. F..14. TRACT DISTRIBUTION MOVEMENT.-A parcel -1_ of Tracts, Christmas Cards, Booklets, etc., sent to workers. Send 2s. 6d. Kindly make offer known to workers.-A. Marshall. 75 Corfield Street, Bethnal Green, E.2.

The Founders of New England.

BY

W. MELVILLE HARRIS, M.A.

A TEXT BOOK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S EXAMINATIONS.

Price 8d. net. Postage lid.

Henry Hooks, I2 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C.4

HOTELS, HYDROS, BOARD RESIDENCES, and

PRIVATE APARTMENTS. - Misses PILLING, 33 Northamherland Avenue, N.S.

Public and Private Apartments. U.11.

BLACKPOOL, -Mrs. Cs. S 1•1190F L Ds, 1S i3trriectelltc.

Public and Private Apartments. Sea view. N.S. U.M.

WHEN REPLYING TO

ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION

"UNITED METHODIST."

ANNIVERSARY MUSIC. We have in Stock a large selection of various editions, old Notation in Booklet Form and Hymn Sheets.

A Specimen Copy of Words and Music of each selection will be sent post free

for 8d.

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

SITUATION VACANT.

YRINTING.-Carable Letterpress Machine Minder Wanted in small office d: ce for general commercial an half-tone block work ; profit-sharing scheme -Harris, Printer, Worcester. RECITALS, Etc.

EGITALS. "A Prince among Elocutionists." " He is a born Elocutionist." - Lancaster Guardian " An Excellent Recital." Era. "Admir-able Recital."-The Stage " Audience spell-bound." ' A highly talented Elocutionist." - Cambridge' Chronicle. " Marvellous powers of Elocution." -Rugby Advt. Humorous, Dramatic and Sacred Recitals. GARNISH BARNSDALE, Elocutionist, Rochdale.

Children's Exercises. We have several very attractive Exercises, suitable for Demonstra-tions arranged for a various number of scholars. specially designed for use in our own Schools " The Message of the Flag " (1d.) ; " The Victorious Cross " (1d.) ; " Suffer the Little Children" (2d.) ; " The Golden Chain of Empire " (2d.). ; " The Building of the Light-house," with Hymns from the U.M. Sunday School Hymnal (2d.). Specimens can be had for cost and postage ld.

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

HARROGATE, ASHVILLE COLLEGE.

FOR BOARDERS ONLY.

Finest Situation. Thorough Equipment. University Staff. .0 Cadet Corps. Rev. ALFRED SOOTHILL, E. A.. ' Head Master.

Edgehill Girls' College, BIDEFORD, N. DEVON.

• HEAD MISTRESS : Miss E. 0. JOHNSON, B.A. (Hons.) Lond,

Healthy and situation ; laboratory ; gymnasium ; large playing fields; own farm.

Terms, from 3g Guineas. For. list of recent successes and Prospectus

apply to-The Head Mistress.

FRUIT DOES NUT STAIN THEM. Proof against Vinegar or other acids. Absolutely Stain-less and Rustproof. Appearance of Silver always. Knifeboarde abolished. therefore do not wear away. (Outlast 20 ordinary Steel Knives.) Table Knives, 22/-half dos. ; Dessert sire, 20/ half doz. Carver and Fork, 17/6 ; including Steal, 221- Five-piece Game and Meat Carver Combination, 40/-. Tea Knives, daintiest ever manufactured, with Silver Band, 6 for 18/9 ; minus Silver Band, 16/6. y guaranteed. Sample Knife, any size, 3/6. Bargain List of Cutlery (all classes) and Plate post free. Buy direct and save 30% to 40%. Fact ! J. E. DIXON, 142 OAKBROOK ROAD. SHEFFIELD. PACICS Charming Curtain', Patent Produc-tions. DIRECT FROM LOOMS. s, Linens, ry , Casements, Muslin Quilts, Lins, Hosie, Blau], ets. Renewals. Attractive Autumn ewals. Send for interesting Catalogue, post free "The Weave that Wears."- Saml. Peach & Sous, 199, The Looms, Nottingham.

'BLACKPOOL

Printed at THE MAGNET PRESS, 188 Rye Peckham, S.E., and Published by HENRY HooKs, 12 Farringdon Avenue, London, E.C., for the UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, Thursday, October 9th, 1919.