expense, and much annoyance, when numbers are less or more than were expected. In a practical dissertation like this, it may not be out of place to say that for a party of eighty persons the following provision would be found necessary:-One pound of the best black tea, (this should be placed in muslin bags to go into the urns,) ten pounds of loaf sugar, one gallon of milk, forty pounds of bread, seven pounds of butter, and twenty pounds of cake. The table should be supplied by appointed waiters, who only should be permitted to move about during tea-time; this will prevent confusion, and greatly facilitate the pleasant dispatch of the meal. In large companies one person should be appointed to superintend, to whom all enquiries should be directed, and all wants made known. His eye should be everywhere, so that a nod may command his presence at any moment in any part of the room.

IV. Wherever possible, after tea, the children should be permitted to exercise themselves in gambols, as already described, or otherwise at the discretion of the managers. And the whole character of the entertainment should be, in the best sense of the word, free, easy, and acceptable. Anything of a long-winded or lugubrious character should be tabooed, and the proceedings should close when enjoyment is at its height, rather than when the company are weary with satiety. A short devotional service should be the last engagement of the evening, sending the dear little ones to their homes full of the thought that virtuous companionship and holy joy is the best possible blessing under the sun, and, that “Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness and that all her paths are peace."

The third class of social gatherings are those which I have called general, because any person choosing to do so may purchase a ticket, attend the meeting, and share in the festivities. Much that has already been written will apply to them, and therefore need not be repeated, but there are a few things sometimes neglected, which need attention. To make such demonstrations successful, effort is needed: too much dependence must not be placed on placards, advertisements, and announcements, all excellent in their way and which should be made good use of, but only as auxiliaries. The main moving power should come from the canvass of the officers, committee, members, and friends. What glorious trophies are found now in the Temperance ranks, who were first drawn to the movement by a private pressing invitation to attend some particular gathering. An ancient orator used to say to his pupils, "If you want your

audience to weep, weep you!" Just so; and if you want to press earnest men into the movement, be in earnest, and show outsiders that you are, by your friendly strivings for their sympathy, adherence and aid.

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Prepare things suitable for the class of audience you expect, whether of age, sex, intelligence or rank. Be in harmony with the seasons. Don't have summer-like gatherings in the winter, or winter-like gatherings in the summer. There is a time for everything under the sun; and a proper time too. Don't tell lies your bills. This is a common sin, and by no means confined to the Temperance movement. The time announced should be adhered to; half-past five means thirty minutes before six, not so long after. Six does not mean seven, merely because it's your anniversary. This fact is frequently overlooked. Fix the time at which your tea, entertainment, or meeting shall commence, and keep to it, or you are setting an example of untruthfulness. Don't put speakers names down on the bills who have not promised to be present, or include in your programme amusements you have neither the means nor the intention of carrying out. Such tricking, while unjust to the audience and the speakers whose names are clandestinely used, recoils on its perpetrators, and strikes sidelong at the success of our enterprise. Don't advertise Temperance concerts, and then show neither Temperance music, melody, or anthem on the programme. Such things have been, and worse; drinking songs have been introduced, either for the sake of the singer, or the sound of a jingling harmony. At some such seasons, if it were not for the bare announcement, no one would suppose that the evening's engagement had anything at all to do with the Temperance Reform.

Temperance excursionists should invariably include a temperance meeting in their arrangements, if not for the benefit of those who go with them, for the advantage of the place where, and the people to whom they go. While such meeting is being held, all other proceedings should he stopped. The attendance of the excursionists, the singing of the children, and the addresses of the speakers, may mean the temporal, and, perchance, even the eternal salvation of many. The secretary should have his pledge-book with him, so that signatures may be taken on the spot.

If possible, add a Christmas tree to your winter festival, only taking care that all articles are properly numbered, and having two sets of numbers, give the duplicate numbers to the young people as they pass into the meeting, so that no confusion is

caused. To prevent any crowding, make all the children keep their seats during the distribution. Two of the committee at the tree, the remainder scattered about the room, at equal distances, will be able to hand the articles, as the numbers are found, with sufficient rapidity. An occasional melody will

please and profit the company.

At annual meetings, prune the dimensions of the report. Strike out ruthlessly all redundance, the poetry, the reflections, the figures of speech, aud opinions. A report should be a statement of facts, not a literary effort, except in as far as brevity and point are concerned. A report should state concisely the Society's object, what has been done towards attaining it, how it has been accomplished, who have been the workers, and what the work has cost. All beyond this, however interesting, is superfluous, and should not be obtruded upon the meeting as a part of that document.

Don't ask too many speakers, or forget to pay their expenses when they come. It is not uncommon to see 10 or 12 speakers announced for one meeting, each of whom could usefully occupy half an hour. To some of these men, it is evident, an evening at home would be exceedingly valuable, or the unnecessary attendance of half of them might be dispensed with, and an opportunity thus given for attending when there was more need of help. It should be remembered by those who have the inviting of the speakers, that the men most likely to attract attendance are the men who have least time to waste.

Processions, in town or country, if well conducted, cannot but provoke thought on the part of the beholders. Vain personal display at such a time is exceedingly out of place, and will only be indulged in by the ignorant and vulgar. Flags, unmistakeably indicative of Teetotal principles and the cardinal virtues, and corresponding biblical injunctions, may be advantageously displayed; but irritating allusions should not on any pretence be permitted. We war with principles, not with persons, and we must convince, not goad the unthinking, the prejudiced, and the adversary, if we are to convert and win them.

Much more might be said, but "in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin ;" and one sin is the waste of time when you appeal to the thoughtful. To such these words are spoken; and in conclusion we would say, whether your meetings, entertainments, or festivals be general, public, or private, keep God's glory and man's good continually in view,-be actuated by pure motive, be honest in your aim, feeling that for the time being, and as far as your influence extends, you have the interests and

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honour of a great movement committed to your care, and then everything will be done "decently and in order."

WATER AND WINE.

Lines written at Ackworth School, on the occasion of J. W's Marriage with S. G.

When circling friends the bridal pair surround,
With wine or water shall the feast be crown'd?
Gladness is there, joy animates the throng;
Deck you with rosebuds, raise the cheerful song.
Let not one flow'ret of the spring pass by,
Quaff the full portion of the cup of joy;

With wine, bright wine, the festal board be crown'd,
Banish dull care, and send the wine cup round.
Delusive syren! hush thy tempting strain;;
Behold thy votaries lie among the slain!
Madd'ning thy joy, thy pleasures quickly pall,
See the handwriting on the banquet hall!
Thou art found wanting, in truth's balance weigh'd,
Thy lightning flash but leaves a deeper shade.
Darkness and woe, and bitter fruits are thine,
Banish the cup! taste not the sparkling wine.
Yes! when our friends the bridal pair surround,
With crystal water let the feast be crown'd.
Haste ye to yonder living fountain bright;
It sparkles too, all clear as liquid light!
It maddens not the brain, nor fires the eye;
It leaves no stain upon our revelry.

When angels' food to Israel's tribe was given,
This the twin blessing granted them by Heaven.
Planted at length on Canaan's fruitful hills,
Their milk and honey fail'd, when fail'd their rills.
Seated 'neath vine and fig tree, Israel

Eat of the fruit, and drank the limpid well.
The brightest jewel that the earth can boast,
Measures by water its uncounted cost,
Emblem of purity, and grace divine,
O may truth's living waters e'er be mine!
When the Apostle saw, with angel eye,
The city of transparent gold on high,
Waters of life, all clear as crystal flowed,
And gladden'd all the heritage of God!

J. NEWBY.

LANCASHIRE DISTRESS.

Subscriptions have been received from Newcastle, Windermere, St. Pancras, &c., which will be more distinctly acknowledged in our next Number. We hope our friends will do their best for the starving children of the North.

THE LAST MONTH OF THE YEAR.

By UNCLE TRUE.

My Hymn Book says:

"How long sometimes a day appears,

And weeks how long are they;
Months move along, as if the years
Would never pass away."

And although the sentiment of the hymn is quite true, and the days, weeks, months and years move slowly along, we no sooner come to the end of a year, than we look back, and exclaim, how rapidly the year has passed away! But what does this rapid flight of time signify? Aye, that's the question. It means, in one sense, short and dark days, with no lack of dirt and fog. It is the gloomy season of winter, with Jack frost, and biting cold, and the nipping wind, and wintry snow. It means comforts in doors by the glowing fire, while outside, at every corner, stand the emissaries of old winter, to assault you with a rude and relentless hand. But yet winter, and specially December, brings joyous seasons, long evenings, just the sort for Band of Hope meetings, and as the month gets near its end, merry, merry Christmas, with its glowing fires, piles of cakes, tables groaning with "creature comforts," and hearts as full of glee, as the homes are full of cheer.

Even at midnight, when warm in your nest, and dreaming of you can scarcely tell what, you are startled by the floating sounds poured forth by "wandering minstrels," who at Christmas will call to remind you of their midnight performances. Ah! December, if you are dull, you are merry, and if cold, you are cheerful; but still there is something about you solemn; we part with an old friend, when you depart. The last day of December tells of another year passed into eternity, a year of opportunities, a year of privileges passed away for ever. But there yet remains enough of the year to finish it well. Let us, therefore, take a fresh start before this year is gone. "Whatsoever your hand findeth to do, do it with all your might," was, and is a good motto; let us adopt it, and eagerly seek to diminish the amount of evil there is in the world; and especially does