aright, before deep-seated prejudices possessed them. Science and philosophy had made great advances during the last fifty years, and he saw no reason why, with the many good influences which were at work with our children, the moral and religious should not advance to as great a degree in the next fifty years.

Mr. W. Ludbrook moved the resolution electing the officers for the ensuing year, and in so doing, contrasted the first annual meeting of the Union, with its report, with the meeting which they were then present at, and the report they had heard, showing the advance the Union had made, and the large amount of work performed by its agency. He felt sure that a large share of the progress which the temperance movement had made during the past few years, was in no small degree due to the diligence and discretion of the gentlemen forming the Committee. He had, therefore, much pleasure in moving the resolution.

Mr. F. F. Williams, in seconding the resolution, hoped that the Committee, during the ensuing year, would give even increased attention to the formation of Bands of Hope in connection with Sunday Schools.

Mr. Farrell, in supporting the resolution, said he thought that much good might be done by the Committee of the Union inviting the teachers of two or three neighbouring schools to a social meeting, and in a judicious manner bringing the importance of the Band of Hope movement before them.

At this stage of the proceedings, Mr. W. J. Haynes resumed the chair Mr. Evans moved a vote of thanks to the gentlemen who had been kind enough to act as honorary deputations. This was seconded by Mr. John Roberts.

Messrs. C. G. Robson and Starling returned thanks.

A vote of thanks was passed to the officers and committee who had served during 1861, to which Messrs. Shirley and Dunn responded.

A vote of thanks having been passed to the gentlemen who had respectively occupied the chair, and Mr. M'Cree having made a few remarks, the meeting closed about ten o'clock, the doxology having been sung.

REV. JOHN GUTHRIE, A.M.-A tea meeting was held on Tuesday evening last, in honour of the Rev. John Guthrie, A.M., on the occasion of his departure for London, where he is about to enter on his duties of minister of Albany Street Church, in connection with the Congregational Union of England and Wales. The meeting was singularly pleasant and harmonious. It must have been peculiarly gratifying to Mr. Guthrie to find that clergymen of almost every religious denomination in Glasgow were there, and that others, who found it impossible to be present, had written, to testify their admiration and personal affection for a man whose eminent piety, and overflowing Christian love, had triumphed over all denominational differences, and whose unwearied efforts in the cause of Temperance, ever since it became a movement in this country, had won him the respect of all true Temperance men. It is impossible but that we should deeply regret the removal of such a man from amongst us. But what is a loss to the movement in Scotland will be a gain to the movement in England; and Mr. Guthrie's presence and labours there

will go far to preserve and increase the harmony that should subsist between the different divisions of the temperance host. We therefore fondly hope that the removal of Mr. Guthrie to London will be, upon the whole, a decided advantage to the temperance cause. We are sure that our readers, who knew him so well through the columns of the Weekly Journal, will join with us in our heart-felt desire for Mr. Guthrie's success in England; and perhaps the best wish we can express is, that he may make to himself as many and as true friends there as he leaves behind him here.-League Journal.

FINSBURY CHAPEL.-From the following extract from the South Wales Times, we are happy to learn that the pulpit of Finsbury Chapel, London, will very soon be filled by an eminent preacher of the Congregational body from Newport, Monmouthshire, and wish him much success in his new and extensive sphere, upon which he is entering. The district of South Wales and Monmouthshire is about to sustain a severe loss. The Rev. A. M‘Auslane, of Newport, has accepted an invitation to become the pastor of the late Dr. Fletcher's congregation, worshipping at Finsbury Chapel, London. Mr. M'Auslane is no ordinary man. Although he has only been a resident in this district for a short time, his influence has nevertheless been felt far and wide throughout South Wales. As a preacher, his services have been sought by every section of dissenters. His fervency of manner, his natural eloquence, and his unbounded zeal in the prosecution of his Master's work, have established for him an enduring name throughout the country. His labours have not been confined to the preaching of the gospel. He is an ardent advocate of the temperance cause. He was amongst

some of the first of the promoters of the South Wales Total Abstinence and Prohibitive Association, and he is at present the honorary secretary of that important institution. The members of the Dock-street church and congregation, Newport, deeply regret his departure from their midst. He is greatly beloved by all of them, and they deplore his loss as a great calamity. In leaving Newport for the metropolis, Mr. M'Auslane's great aim is to be located in a more extended sphere of usefulness. The blessings of thousands will accompany him to his new field of labonr. He has been a burning and a shining light while sojourning in our midst, and we trust that he may be made yet more abundantly useful in the great city.

BARRHEAD." JUVENILE ABSTAINERS' UNION." The usual fortnightly meeting of this Union took place in the Public Hall on the evening of Saturday, the 8th curt. Mr. A. M'Lintock, the active and energetic President, in the chair. Mr. J. Cunningham, Glasgow, was present, and gave a stirring address upon the duty, importance, and necessity of choosing an object in life at which to aim, counting the cost, and then directing all our energies to the accomplishment of the object in view. Mr. Cunningham was listened to with the greatest attention on the part of young and old, and a vote of thanks to him at the close was warmly responded to. Mr. J. M'Gregor, Glasgow, sung a number of temperance melodies. Mr. Burns, Glasgow, gave a few comic songs, which were

received with roars of laughter; and Mr. M‘Kay told some Scotch stories very well, although we consider there was something in "The Farmer of Fife" not very suitable for the occasion. Mr. Rigg and other friends also entertained the meeting with song, &c.; and the instrumental band of the Thornliebank Rifle Volunteers, under its able instructor, Mr. Alex. M'Lintock, played a number of pieces in first-rate style, which were highly appreciated. The Quadrille Band in connection with the Union, led by Mr. William M Lintock, gave a few pieces in usual excellent style. After votes of thanks to the various performers, the large audience dispersed, all seemingly htghly delighted with the instruction and entertainment of the evening.

WORTHING. The Band of Hope festival was held here on the 28th ult., when about 400 children and adults partook of tea in the Montague Hall After tea, addresses were given by several warm friends of the cause. Messrs. Hilton, Smart, and Fitch, from Brighton, attended as a deputation. The evening was also enlivened with dissolving views, and the meeting passed away very pleasantly. Mr. Smith presided.

THIRSK CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATION. This association, conducted on the same plan as the Shrewsbury Association, is formed in the hope of arresting in some degree the evils of intemperance, which have for many years done so much injury to the prospects, the happiness, the health, and, it is to be feared, the souls of many of our neighbours. Its efforts will be directed more particularly to seek those to whom strong drink is a snare, and by kind persuasion, and meeting together weekly, in social and other meetings, to converse on the subject and seek Divine assistance to take and keep the following pledge:-"I hereby promise, through Divine help, to abstain from the use of all intoxicating drinks, as beverages, and to try to persuade others to do the same."

PECKHAM TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.-On Wednesday, Jan. 29, a meeting took place at the Boys' British Schoolroom, High Street. The chair was taken by E. Broad, Esq., and on the platform were Mr. John De Fraine, Thomas Cash, Esq., and other gentlemen. Our esteemed friend, J. F. Hamand, delivered the first of two orations upon "Britain's Bane and how to Cure it." The evils of intemperance were depicted by him in all their magnitude and horror, in a way seldom surpassed, and we have every reason to believe he will become one of the brightest stars of the temperance world. Twenty-one pledges were taken.

LITERATURE.

Village Sketches. By T. C. WHITEHEAD, M.A. London: Bosworth and Harrison.-These sketches were written by the author at the request of a friend, who wished for an account of his parochial experience. They were subsequently published in their present form. They are remarkable for their plain common-sense, and insight into the ways and thoughts of the poor. To any one engaged in seeking to benefit the working classes, we strongly recommend this neat volume. The present number of the Record contains the first Sketch, and in future numbers we will give further extracts from Mr. Whitehead's book.

Jarrold's cheap Series of Tracts. Norwich and London.-Cheap and good tracts are of the greatest use to all persons engaged in temperance work, and the tracts before us are well adapted to circulation amongst all classes. They are, however, best adapted to working men. The "Story for Home," contained in our pages, will enable our readers to judge of their character. In preparing a cheap series of tracts, the publishers have con ferred a great boon on the temperance public.

J. BALE, Printer, 78, Great Titchfield-street, Marylebone.

BAND OF HOPE RECORD.

THE CHILDREN OF THE AGE.

By the EDITOR.

There are around us thousands of innocent, bright-eyed, happy children. What is to become of them? There are troops of boys and girls whose passions are beginning to flush their cheeks and thrill their hearts. What is to become of them? There are crowds of young men and maidens full of love and life. What is to become of them?

How important is moral discipline in early life! Mr. Francis, in his "Chronicles and Characters of the Stock Exchange," tells us of a footman who invested a portion of his savings in a lottery ticket, hoping thereby to be made rich; but, on receiving a blank, committed suicide. In his box was found a sheet of paper, on which he had written as follows:-"As soon as I have received the money, I will marry Grace Towers; but as she has been cross and coy, I will use her as a servant. Every morning she shall get me a mug of strong beer, with toast, nutmeg, and sugar in it: then I will sleep till ten, after which I will have a large sack posset. My dinner shall be on the table by one, never without a good pudding. I will have a stock of wine and brandy laid in. About five in the afternoon I will have tarts and jellies, and a gallon bowl of punch; at ten a hot supper of two dishes. If I am in a good humour, and Grace behaves herself, she shall sit down with me. To bed about twelve." This man's god was his belly, and doubtless his early education had been such as to make him regard personal gratification as the chief good. And children who are not taught to love the simple, the beautiful, and the pure, are sure to become the victims of sensualism. Young people trained to delight in lollypops more than goodness, and to glory in beer more than books, cannot be expected to become moral heroes and noble Train them well, and they will live well.

women.

I often regret to see how soon children are taught to love strong drink. Passing opposite a gin-shop, I saw the huge folding-doors opened by an aged man, who beckoned to a girl. She went to him. He gave her a glass of gin, and she drank it. When such things are done, it is not wonderful to find two little milk-girls conversing thus:

“What had thou?”

"I had a pennyworth of rum. What had thou?" "I bought a pen'north o' gin."

Such are the results of a drinking education. The father drinks-the mother drinks-the child drinks. And so there cometh another generation of drinkers.

Through this drinking the children of the age are left without education. Having met with a mother who had evidently just enjoyed her glass, I said:

"Would you like me to take them to the Ragged School, where they will get a good education for nothing?”

"How much a-week will you give me for sending them?" Nay, nothing. You may feel glad that you have not to pay

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"Then you shall not have them," was the answer of the gincursed mother.

It is sometimes stated that the poor cannot afford to educate their children. Is it so? I know a spot in London from which any one may count a score of places where strong drink is sold, and yet from the same spot there cannot be counted four schools which are maintained by the customers of those infamous places. People who spend twenty-four millions on spirits, twenty-five millions on beer, and seven millions on tobacco, can surely manage to feed, clothe, and educate their children. Free education may therefore become an evil. It may encourage idleness. It may release parents, from the pressure of responsibility. It may multiply gin-shops. It is good to make those who obtain education pay for it. We must teach men their duties as parents, and when we have brought in the good time with shoutings of joy, they will thank us for the benevolent firmness with which we refused to do everything for them, and wisely, sought to make them help themselves..

Not a few of our juvenile population are the offspring of inveterate drunkards. From their earliest hours they are familiar with oaths, lewd, songs, heavy blows, and cruel want. Such was the father of the ragged boy whom Punch described as having been sent to a Jolly Barman:

Ragged Boy: "Please give dad a short pipe."