poets, combined to represent its sanguinary stream as beautified by more than rainbow hues of glory.

So with Intemperance. The goblet, the tankard, the vine, the barleycorn, the lordly revel, and the wayside inn, have each their poetical panegyrists, many of whom, even while the praises of drink and drinkers are flowing from their pen, are being murdered by the theme they sing. Bacchus, the personification of every lewdness, and whose infamous rites and ceremonies heathen Rome united to suppress, has his altars and worship established in every enlightened and christian land. Hymns and odes are ever being chaunted in his praise; while his worship is so literally reduced to practice, that George Cruikshank's gigantic picture, so ghastly in its glaring truthfulness, appears more like a panorama of current events than an effort of the artistic genius and skill.

We owe very much of this infamy, suffering, sin, and shame, to the metrical praises of "rosy wine," dedicated by misguided poets to the "Jolly God." What a mockery of a title! How terribly grim it appears, when viewed by the medium of the victims ruined at his shrine. "The Jolly God!" Think of the jolliness of the poverty and bankruptcy he is ever occasioning; how "jolly" the misery that, like a shadow, ever dogs his steps; the "jolly" crime to which he leads; the "jolly" madness which so frequently seizes his victims; how "jolly" the gout, and other maladies his devotions create; how "jolly" the deaths of drunken suicides, and alas! how "jolly" the hell beyond. Think of all these, and then we shall in some degree have estimated the results to which his godship's joviality leads.

for

But if songs in favour of drink, war, and vice, are fraught with mischief, may not ballads and melodies, on the side of sobriety and virtue, be rife with good? Our reply is unhesita tingly in the affirmative. He who has written a good song childhood, is a benefactor to the human race. Watts' Moral Songs for Children, have done more in England, to restrain passion and wrong, than all the human laws since devised. Next to the writer of a good piece for singing, the praise of men, aye, and the smile of angels, is his, who writes a pleasant tune to which to sing it. The teacher who brings both poet and composer together into the children's voice, mind, and hearts will not lack his share of praise, and doing his work well, will impart a pleasure which death only can destroy. We never lose the memory of childhood's music. If young people are to be happy, we must teach them to sing, and to sing what is sensible and true, as well as melodiously sweet in sound.

The Band of Hope movement has done something towards improving childhood's songs. The Sunday and Day Schools, by reason of priority of establishment, still more. But the Temperance contribution to the world of harmony has been by no means unimportant. Who that heard the thousand voices of the Band of Hope children, brought together by the "Union," to sing at the great Temperance Gathering of the National Temperance League at the Crystal Palace, in August last, but is fully convinced of this! What unison of voice! How distinctly the words were rendered! The papers containing the words were almost superfluous, so clear and unmistakable was the utterance of the children. This is as it should be, if our singing in Band of Hope meetings is to become an attraction and a power.

Tunes should be correctly taught, words be learnt without mistake, and such melodies only used as have a clear and welldefined meaning. The conductor should make suitable selections for stated times: in the open air, simple and lively tunes should be used; for festivals, friendly and inviting words, set to grand and cheerful music. The artistic (unless thoroughly learnt) and the instructive part of the singing should be left to the ordinary practice meetings.

Happily, there is now a large choice of melodies from which to select, so that almost every taste may be suited; but for general use and diversity, the hymns and melodies published by the Band of Hope Union are comprehensive in their range, and the tunes excellent; while its cheapness (one penny for seventy melodies) is a sure guarantee of acceptance with very many. Earnestly pleading with Band of Hope conductors that they will see that the melody department of their work is conducted with increased efficiency and zeal, we conclude by presenting our readers with some original specimens of the kind of melodies and tunes adapted for different occasions, and which may act as a key-note for the guidance of our friends. For an Open-Air Meeting:

TUNE-" Minnie."

There's an evil rife in our father land,
Which causes sin and woe;

A giant curse, which our youthful band,
Unite to overthrow.

Be sober, be sober, and happy be!
To your pledge be true, and your Saviour too.
From all temptation flee.

That hearts, now drooping, may revive,
And share our blessings too.

Be earnest, be earnest, and loving be!

For a kind word said is a mighty aid
In obtaining victory.

Oh! list to the wail of the drunkard's child,
And hear its mother's moan;

Alas! it is long since that mother smiled

In her early, happy home.

Be active, be active, and prayerful be,

She yet may rejoice at her husband's voice,
And he may yet be free.

Let kindness blend with each effort made
To break the drunkard's chain;
With looks of love to his rescue move,
And we his heart may gain.

Speak gently, speak gently, make trial fair,

Gentle tones may win that heart from sin,
And stamp God's image there.

To God we look our work to bless,

To him our voices raise;

"Oh crown our movement with success,

"And Thou shalt have the praise.

"Our Father, our Father, oh haste the time !

"When Thy name shall be known in each heart and home, "And the world shall all be Thine."

For a New Year's Festival, or an Annual Meeting:

TUNE-" Cheer, Boys, Cheer."

Welcome friends, we bid you kindly welcome,
Welcome friends, we gladly meet you here,
Our good cause your help and presence strengthens,
As thus with joy we usher in the year.

Mighty the sin with which we seek to grapple,

Blighting men's hopes, destroying their peace;
But cheer'd from above we gird us for the battle,
Nor till we conquer shall earnest effort cease.

Welcome friends, &c. [1st four lines.]

What though foes unite to stay our progress,
We'll work on, rememb'ring the reward;
Truth stands firm against all combinations,

Its friend and helper, creation's mighty Lord.
Drunkards reclaimed, the nation it will prosper,
Crime be restrained, and vice yield its throne;
Hearts nearly crush'd will rise to joy and gladness,
And the rude shelter become the happy home.

Welcome friends, &c.

Help, then, help! we need your kind assistance,
Sign our pledge, and to abstain begin;

And then soon, in spite of Hell's resistance,

The stronghold of sickness and sorrow we shall win.
Glorious the war in which we are engaging,
Seeking to staunch the death-dealing tide!
Lend, lend your aid, while fierce the battle's raging,
We've God for our captain, His word for our guide.

Welcome friends, &c.

For a general Gathering, when parents, teachers, and others may be present:

TUNE-" Willie, we have missed you."

Dear children, we invite you come, come, and sign,

Before the foe can smite you, give up strong drink and wine;
Come join our Band of Hope, and let us happy be,

A noble band, compact and brave, from drink's allurements free.
Temptations let us shun, in virtues strive to shine,

Dear children, we invite you-come, come, and sign.

Dear parents, we invite you, come, come, and sign,

Our cause will more delight you, if you'll with us combine,

We know you love us well, and always seek our good,

Then join our ranks against the drink, we really wish you would,
Our homes will then be free from the subtle serpent's slime,

Dear parents, we invite you, come, come, and sign.

Dear teachers, we invite you, come, come, and sign,
Let not the pledge affright you, our principle's divine,
Strong drink's the foe of God-no less the foe of man,
And ever strives to overturn each Sabbath teacher's plan ;
The Sunday school it streaks with Death's destructive sign-
Dear teachers, we invite you, come, come, and sign.

And friends all, we invite you, come, come, and sign,

Although we won't indict you with drinking as a crime,

Yet see the fearful woe it works on all around,

And much sad sin might soon be stayed if you with us were found.
Oh! then by precept, prayer, and by bright example shine,
Dear friends, we now invite you, come, come, and sign.

For a Children's Meeting on an ordinary occasion. The verses within brackets [] to be used if occasion served—i. e., if any teachers or parents, who were not abstainers, were present:

TUNE-" We love the Sunday School."

The Band of Hope we love to meet,

Upon the meeting night,

And hasten there with willing feet,

In friendship to unite.

For we love the Band of Hope,

Yes we do, we love the Band of Hope.

Our union is against the drink,

Which brings so many sad,

Which brings such crowds to ruin's brink,
And drives so many mad.

So we love, &c.

So many souls the drink destroys,
We think it can't be right,

And so, although but girls and boys,
Against it we will fight.
For we love, &c.

Our Saviour taught us good to do,
Though it might cause us pain,
But here we good examples shew,
And health and freedom gain.
So we love, &c.

Then little children join our band,
And lads and lasses come,
Be joined with us in heart and hand,
And drinking customs shun.
For we love, &c.

[And teachers, help us souls to win,
And turn them from the snare,
Which yearly draws its thousands in,
And lures them to despair.
For we love, &c.]

[And parents, we, your children pray,
That you our cause will aid,
And with our teachers lead the way,
From drink's destructive shade.
For we love, &c.]

O God, we lift our hearts to thee,
Lay bare thy shining sword,-

From drink's black curse our country free,

Thy kingdom come, O Lord.

Ever bless the Band of Hope,

Gracious God, succeed the Band of Hope.

Fellow labourers, keep yourselves and the children from vulgar parodies, doggerel, and nonsense, and it shall be well with you, well with them, and well with the cause of Temperance.

HOW WE DO IT.

To the Editor of the "BAND OF HOPE RECORD."

Dear Sir,-In accordance with your request, I have much pleasure in sending you a detailed account of the manner in which our Band of Hope is conducted, and trust that other Societies may be induced to furnish