I did not see him again for three months, and then I found him in Cold-bath-fields prison. The tale which he told the govenor was enough to melt a heart of stone. His wife had died, eaten up by a disease brought on by his habits of intoxication. His children were, most of them, vagabonds upon the face of the earth, in consequence of the father's habits of intoxication. His tale contains some particulars too affecting for recital; and I make the statement not, to rouse your passions, but to deter you from taking the first step as to the use of intoxicating liquors; and to convince you that the safest plan is 'touch not, taste not, handle not!'-Rev. James Sherman, London. ANNALS OF THE BAND OF HOPE UNION. The past month has been one of constant exertion and good success. Among other efforts, the committee issued the following circular:"November 28th, 1861. “Dear Sir,—We are desired to write you a note requesting your kind co-operation in regard to our system of Juvenile Collecting towards the funds of the Union. The Band of Hope Union has endeavoured to aid your society to the best of its ability, considering the limited means and agencies at its disposal. We greatly need the sympathy of our friends connected with the several local societies, and when we thus appeal, we feel at the same time that they are very willing to aid the movement in any way they may be able. Feeling this, we take an opportunity of pointing out to you how you may best do this. If only one out of every fifty children belonging to our Bands of Hope in London, collected for us threepence a week, it would at least bring in £350. annually. Hitherto, nothing approximating this has been achieved, and yet if our friends help us how easily this desirable result may be attained. "A Social Meeting will be held at the office, as above, on Thursday evening, December 5th, at which the pleasure of your company is earnestly requested. Tea on the table at six. On this occasion we hope to see as many of our friends, secretaries, or any persons-ladies or gentlemen-who take an active interest in our work, as can make it convenient to attend. We shall esteem it a favour if you will kindly take an interest in the matter, and endeavour to secure us as many young friends from your Society as may be eligible to collect, and whom, also, we shall be happy to see to tea. "For the encouragement of the children, we intend inviting them to a Quarterly Tea Meeting, on which occasion they will be encouraged in their work, and we shall do our best to make the occasions agreeable and profitable to them. In the summer, we shall perhaps take them out for a day into the country. Last Christmas we distributed prizes, &c., to the most energetic of our young friends. So that, altogether, whilst we ask your aid, we feel we shall be in no way lessening the usefulness of your members to yourselves, but shall be forming new incentives in your children for further attachment to the cause. At the quarterly meetings, the amounts collected will be brought in. "The Collectors are provided with boxes and collecting books, and are expected principally to exert themselves in getting small weekly subscriptions from their friends. One child who may thus endeavour to make him or herself useful, might easily obtain six penny weekly subscribers. This would give six shillings and sixpence per quarter; whilst, if it were only half the sum, it might be the means of doing much good. "We shall be glad to receive any suggestion from you on the subject, either by letter, or on the evening. Tickets of admission to the meeting, on the 5th, will be provided for your own use, any friends who like to come, or children from your Society wishing to become collectors. "We are, yours faithfully, "G. W. M'CREE, Hon. Secs." "M. W. DUNN, The meeting thus convened was held, and a goodly number of senior and junior friends attended. The chair was taken by Mr. S. Tucker, and after prayer by Mr. G. Blaby, addresses were delivered by Mr. S. Shirley, Mr. J. Eaton, and the Rev. G. W. M'Cree. The young friends brought in their collecting cards, and undertook to go on in their good and kind work. Misses Worms and Stone gave recitations with very good taste. On the Cover will be found an advertisement of the next meeting-a new year's treat for our young friends. The committee will welcome any person (whether old or young) who may wish to aid the Band of Hope Union. A very pleasant meeting is expected. MODEL BAND OF HOPE MEETINGS. The committee of the Band of Hope Union, having long felt that much improvement might be made in the mode of conducting Bands of Hope, and that this desirable object would be accomplished by the institution of MODEL MEETINGS, they sought the co-operation of various well-known conductors. Having met with great sympathy from them, a series of three meetings were held, namely: at Deverell Street, Little Denmark Street, and Great Queen Street. The mode of conducting them was as follows::-1. The Band of Hope was conducted in the ordinary manner ;—— 2. A Model Address was delivered by a gentleman appointed by the Union; and then, the children having been dismissed;-3. The friends present made pertinent remarks on the proceedings of the evening. The meetings were conducted by Mr. Parkes, Mr. Williams, Mr. B. Harvey, Mr. Wood, Mr. Blaby, Mr. Shirley, and the Rev. G. W. M'Cree. The criticism on the hymns, recitations, singing, addresses, &c., was of the most important character, and must do much to improve the present mode of conducting Bands of Hope. The committee are arranging for four more Model Meetings, and will be glad to afford every information on the subject. Societies wishing for such meetings, are requested to write as soon as possible to 37, Queen Square. WEEDON.-The Weedon Band of Hope Festival took place on Friday, November 22nd, in the British School Room. The room was tastefully decorated for the occasion with evergreens and flowers, whilst on the walls a suitable selection of mottoes were displayed. Great credit is due to Miss Page for her praiseworthy exertions, which at all times are cheerfully put forth to further the interests of this good cause. The arrangements for the tea were excellent, and well carried out, while the pleasant faces of the company showed that the provisions were heartily enjoyed by all. The chair was occupied by the Rev. J. Evans, who expressed his good wishes towards the society, at the same time he urged others to join the movement. Mr. Bird, the secretary, read the report, which was very encouraging. Mr. Littlemore moved, and Mr. J. Adams seconded the same, each speaking of the great importance of the society. The dissolving views were very good, and the clear way in which Mr. F. Smith, (agent of the Band of Hope Union,) explained them, together with a variety of anecdotes he related, rendered the lecture highly interesting as well as instructive to all present. At the close, Mr. W. Wareing spoke very highly of the manner they had been entertained, and concluded by moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Smith, which was passed with applause. Mr. F. SMITH has held meetings at :-Spa Fields Chapel, Clerkenwell; Alfred Place, Old Kent Road; Offord Road, Barnsbury; Darby Street, Mint; Farringdon, Berks; Worcester; Ledbury; Devizes; Cirencester; and Esher Street, Kennington, &c. Mr. G. BLABY has held meetings at :-Bayswater; Soho; St. Clement's Danes; Bloomsbury Refuge; Albion Hall; Shadwell; Albany Chapel, Regent's Park; Spafields; St. Giles's; and Mansfield Street, Borough Road, &c. LITTLE WILD STREET.- The Second Annual Meeting of the Band of Hope was held at the Chapel, on Wednesday evening, November 27th. A tea was provided at Half-past Five, and George Cruikshank, Esq., took the chair at seven o'clock. The meeting was addressed by Messrs. Payne, Campbell, E. J. Oliver, Woollacott, C. Oliver, and Howlett. The secretary, Mr. E. J. Oliver, read the report, which showed an increase of members, and was highly satisfactory. J. Payne, Esq, delivered a very interesting address, in his usual striking manner, and at the conclusion of which, he read the following verses : Bands of Hope are things of beauty, Buds and blossoms of life's spring, Early teaching lips to sing. Bands of Hope are things of brightness, Children speaking sober truth. 'Midst the best of earth's possessings, Little sisters, little brothers, If you sow it you will reap it, Now let all, as earnest pleaders, God preserve the temperance leaders, And "The Wild Street Band of Hope." The other speakers very ably and earnestly supported the cause, and were listened to with great attention. During the evening the children sang several hymns and melodies. MOUSEHOLE. On Monday evening, December 2nd, Mr. Insull, of London, entertained the children and friends of the Wesleyan Methodist Band of Hope, with one of his very amusing and instructive entertainments, interspersed with striking anecdotes and melodies, the children taking part in the latter. For two hours Mr. Insull rivetted the attention of the children to a greater degree than most lecturers have the ability to do, and his singing is good. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. Perron, of Penzance.Cornish Telegraph. LITERATURE. An Appeal to the Lovers of the Saviour on behalf of Total Abstinence from Intoxicating Drinks. By a RAILWAY PORTER. London: Jarrolds.The writer of this powerful appeal is an estimable metropolitan advocate, and has written what deserves wide circulation. The price is one penny per copy, and the tract is well worth that small sum. We append a good anecdote of a Minister, which we extract from its pages :-" He was once dining with a family, when the lady who presided at table said, 'Ah, I do not like your doctrine; you go too far in refusing the good creatures of GOD.' No notice was taken of the remark by the minister at the time. At length he said, 'Pray, madam, can you tell me who made this?' holding up a glass of water. The lady replied, 'Why GOD, I suppose.' 'Then,' said the minister. 'I think you do us an injustice, when you accuse us of refusing the good creatures of God.' Silence again reigned. By and by, the minister said, 'Madam, pray can you tell me who made that?' Pointing to a glass of beer, which the lady had at her side. Why, no, sir, I cannot exactly say; I suppose the brewer and the maltster.' 'Then,' replied he, 'allow me to say there is some apparent inconsistency in your first remark. You prefer taking a thing which man has made, to that which GOD has so very bountifully provided; and yet you accuse me of rejecting God's good creatures, because I prefer water to beer! Let me leave the matter to your more serious consideration."" The Shadow of the Almighty. By NEWMAN HALL, L.L.B. London : James Nisbet & Co.-This is another of Mr. Hall's neat, portable, precious volumes. Our readers will find it full of beautiful thoughts and powerful appeals. In its pages will be found 'rest for the weary.' The Threepenny Magazine. Job Caudwell, 335, Strand.-This new candidate for public favour is remarkably well printed, and filled with valuable papers on Domestic Happiness, The Settlement, a Tale, Compensation, The Brothers, Chapter I., The Penny Bank, &c. We strongly recommend it. The Teetotalers' Almanac for 1862. London; Job Caudwell.-Here is a cheap and very good pennyworth. Every total abstainer should have it. It is full of most useful information, but contains one slight error which we beg to correct. The names of the gentlemen who act as agents of the Band of Hope Union (see page 17) are Mr. F. Smith and Mr. G. Blaby. The Union have no other Agents. The Commercial Room. By JOHN BURNS. W. Tweedie, 337, Strand. Whoever begins to read this book will finish it. Mr. Burns is a man of varied experience, great talent, and intense earnestness, and has produced a book which every young man should read. Our pages furnish the reader with a specimen of the 'wares' to be found in "The Commercial Room." Second Annual Report of the Nottingham Band of Hope Union, 1861. -This admirable report is worthy of perusal by all who are engaged in the good work. In our next issue we will say more about it. It will give us much pleasure to hear from our fellow-workers in Nottingham. A Song for Life and Death. A Meditation on the Twenty-third Psalm. By GEORGE W. M'CREE. London: John F. Shaw and Co., Paternoster row, and Southampton row.-This small book may now be obtained of the publishers, MR. JOHN DE FRAINE. We are glad to find that this gentleman is going to deliver an Oration in Exeter Hall. All the particulars will be found in the advertisement on our Cover. We trust the famous hall will be crowded, and that Mr. De Fraine will achieve a brilliant Tickets may be obtained at the office, 37, Queen success. Square. EDITORIAL NOTES. All communications should be written on one side of the paper only. Intelligence should be sent early. Books for Review, Articles for the Record, &c., may be sent to the Editor, at No. 37, Queen Square, London. J. BALE, Printer, 78, Great Titchfield-street, Marylebone. |