SIX REASONS for BANDS of HOPE in connection with SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

1. The use of intoxicating drinks, and the corruption of public-houses, do more than any other cause, to retard and destroy the work of Sunday Schools.

2. If the present state of things continue, a large proportion of the children will become drunkards, and many other sufferers through the vice: prevention is better than cure.

3. Strong drinks are unnecessary, and it is easier to abandon their use in youth than afterwards.

4. Intemperate parents may be reclaimed by their children becoming abstainers.

5. Bands of Hope considerably benefit the Schools where they are formed, by increasing the number of scholars, retaining the elder ones, imparting additional interest, and providing new fields of usefulness.

6. Every church ought to be a centre of philanthropic efforts.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

CRIME IN MIDDLESEX.

HOUSE OF CORRECTION, COLDBATH FIELDS.-The official report of the House of Correction, Coldbath fields, for the year ending Michaelmas, 1862, has been issued, and shows that a great increase of crime has taken place within that period, as compared with the previous year. Upon this subject the report thus refers to it :-" The exceptional state of things prevailing in the metropolis during the past year has been attended with a considerable increase in the number of commitments. In 1861 the total number of prisoners was 8,065; in the present year, 9261. It is, under these circumstances, a matter of rejoicing that, while the aggregate numbers have thus risen, the number of prisoners under 16 years of age, has not only failed to keep pace with the adults, but has materially diminished. Last year the total number of boys under 16 years age was 774,this year it has fallen to 682. Of the prisoners committed during the year, 1,562 had been once before committed; 567 twice; 258, three times, and 422 four times and upwards. In addition to the punishments to which the prisoners were sentenced, the following have been inflicted for offences committed during the year in prison :-Whippings, 10; put in irons, 6; solitary confinement, 267; other punishments, 6,227, making a total of 6,510 additional punishments. The daily average of prisoners was 1,594.

of

HOUSE OF CORRECTION, WESTMINSTER -The report of this prison shows a great increase in the number of female prisoners committed during the year, amounting to 5,099; in the previous year they were

4,805. The number of females received from this prison into reformatory asylums during the year was 130, namely, into the Refuge for the Destitute, 29; Elizabeth Fry Refuge, 60; Manor Hall Asylum, 6; placed in other asylums, and paid for by the ladies of the Patronage Society, 29. Of the prisoners committed during the year, 993 had been once committed before; 497 twice, 271 three times, and 1,841 four times; and more extra punishment for offences committed within the prison-solitary confinement, 83; other punishments, 1,485, making a total of 1,568

HOUSE OF DETENTION, CLERKENWELL.-As in the previous cases, the report of this prison offers a considerable increase in the number of prisoners for the year. The number committed this year was 8,880— viz., 6,510 males and 2,370 females-while in the previous year they were 8,014, being an increase of 866. The daily average was 224. Of the number committed there were committed before:-Once, 1,098; twice, 331; thrice, 14; and four times and more, 207. Extra punishments, in irons, 1; solitary confinement, 38; other punishments, 131. Committed for attempting to commit suicide, 177.

LONDON MUSIC HALLS.-Each of the many places of this kind now existing in London has its distinctive class of visitors. At "Weston's" the "fast" element is observable; at "The Oxford," "fastness" toned down prevails; at "The Alhambra," we see our country cousins; whilst "The Pavillion" is the rendezvous of friendless men of all nations. Going to the east, at "Wilton's," "Jack Tar" is in the ascendant, whilst the large earning part of the working class are seen at "The Canterbury," "The Eagle," and "Deacon's," "The Philharmonic Hall," however, seems to be frequented principally by the middle-class men who are engaged in the city during the day, but whose families live in the suburbs. -The Licensed Victuallers' Almanack for 1863.

POPULAR LECTURES.-Surrey Chapel is famous even to the ends of the earth. The ministry of the Rev. Rowland Hill, and the Rev. James Sherman, both of them men of singular piety and zeal, made “Old Surrey" as some people call the edifice, an attraction and a delight. The ministry and abundant labours of the Rev. Newman Hall fully maintain its reputation. On every Sunday morning and evening, 2000 persons listen with pleasure and profit to his able and eloquent sermons. The simplicity of his style, the careful arrangement of his matter, the fluency of his speech, the aptness of his illustrations and anecdotes, and the impressive character of his elocution, combine to render him one of the most acceptable preachers in London. During the last few years, Mr. Hall has developed a new phase of his character and mind. We do not say that he has become a politician, above all we do not say that he has become a "political parson," but, on Monday evenings, he frequently delivers lectures having a strong political complexion, and in which he endeavours to throw the light of Christianity on passing events. In this we think him perfectly right; by so doing he is serving his generation according to the will of God. He is not a political Christian; he is a

istian politician. His christianity dominates over his politics, not his

politics over his christianity. His political predilections being popular and not exclusive, and pre-eminently favourable to the extension of education, liberty, peace, and righteousness, the working classes love to hear him, and flock in crowds to listen to his voice. "The Surrey Chapel Monday evening lectures," are now well known all over London; indeed they have become an established institution. The subjects treated by Mr. Hall are of the most various character, and include such diverse topics as "A Ramble in Wales," and "The American War," "Nephalism," and "Switzerland." Mr. Hall also obtains the assistance of popular temperance advocates, travellers, artists, and divines. Mr. G. M. Murphy, "The Surrey Chapel Evangelist," an able and useful man, often speaks on Monday evenings. His practical sense, good humour, large experience, and thorough sympathy with the poor, enable him to teach lessons of great usefulness. The Rev. William Brock lectured on "Every Man my Brother." The Rev. Edward White, on "The Gunpowder Plot," and Geo. Cruikshank, Esq., on "Art." Lord Shaftesbury bas presided at some of these lectures, and expressed his entire approval of Mr. Hall's efforts to attract working men from the public-house, and to indoctrinate their minds with sound political and religious principles. The lecture on the "American War" has been published, and is likely to have a large circulation.

PILES OF NOTES.-Most visitors to the great metropolis have seen the Monument, which is situated close to the north end of London Bridge. It is 200 feet in height, and one of the most imposing objects visible from the river. This monument will enable us to gauge our national expenditure on intoxicating drinks. Mr. G. R. Porter, of the Board of Trade, computed that these drinks cost us £75,000,000 annually. Had we this enormous sum of money in £5 notes, we could make twelve piles as high as the monument, at the rate of £500 for every inch. Few persons who cross London Bridge, and view the summit of the monument, are aware of this remarkable fact; if they were, they would surely take care their money was spent in a wiser manner.

DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE.-Mr. William Hoyle, writing in the Bury Times, has reckoned that the money spent in connexion with the liquor traffic during the last twelve months in Bury alone (where there are 63 public-houses and 109 beer-shops) would pension the whole 10,000 people computed to be out of employment in that town, for the next three years, at the rate of 12s. 9d. per week; and by that time surely the pinch of the cotton famine would be over.-Alliance News.

PLAIN WORDS ON PLAIN FACTS.

By the Rev. G. W. McCREE.

Worldly prosperity does not depend upon chance. Steady industry, a sober life, cheerfulness, forethought, perseverance, a wise and prompt use of opportunity, and the cultivation of a

religious life, form the basis of successful effort. I know many persons who are painfully poor simply in consequence of not making use of INSURANCE. Thus, a woman came to me, and said:

"Have you heard of the fire, sir?"

"No."

66

'Oh, sir, the works were burnt down last night, and all my son's tools are gone."

"Was he insured ?"

"No, sir, he often spoke of doing so, and it would not have cost him more than eighteenpence a year, but he put off the time, and now they are all burnt."

"Were the other men insured?"

"None of them, sir, and one man has lost tools worth forty pounds."

"Well, then, was the master insured?”

"No sir, and all his valuable property is gone."

There was wide-spread ruin! Master and men all standing amid the charred and blackened debris of their property, a lamenting their folly. Forethought and decision would have prevented the entire loss falling upon them, and in a few weeks all would have been at work again, but their want of good sense and feeling has involved them in embarrassment. At any hour the smoke and red flames of a fire may enshroud the shop, the factory, or the warehouse in which master and men make an honest and independent livelihood, and, therefore, to "

the insurance of their tools and property is a criminal want of thought.

Nearly allied to the adoption of means for securing ourselves from loss by fire is that whereby we may "assure health and

life. I know a man—a foreman to a builder-who went from his house hale and cheerful, and came back to it maimed, bleeding, and destined to be an invalid for life. Not being in any sick club he is now dependent upon charity-a painful lot for a British workman. And how easily might such a lot be avoided. Looking at the tables of a provident society, I find that by a payment of four-pence per week a person aged twentyfive may secure twelve shillings per week, for fifty-two weeks, and six shillings for fifty-two additional weeks. Some societies offer more benefits for less money, but few, if any, of such societies are safe. I ask, then, if by the weekly payment of "a four-penny bit" a man may secure a respectable sum for the day of sorrow—is it not his duty to do so? Let him think of

his wife and children, and of his own reputation, and not suffer the fool's to-morrow to delude him. This is a good work which ought to be done to-day.

How many families are plunged into absolute poverty and shame-aye, shame-by a husband and father refusing to assure his life. How many are saved from penury and obligation by a wiser and nobler course. A printed document issued by The Temperance Provident Institution, contains the following:

the confectioner, at the corner of

"Mr. Street, engaged some time since to assure in the Institution, but wished to delay, for some purpose which he did not state, for four or five months. Last week, the time being up, I called, as he had requested, but found in the shop only a little girl, dressed in black, who told me that HER FATHER WAS DEAD. "I called to see the widow, and found her to be a very gentle, timid lady, ill-suited to contend with the rough world. She told me that her husband fully intended to assure his life, but was waiting for her confinement, in order that a joint assurance might be effected on their two lives. Alas! before his wife's confinement the husband is in his grave, his wife a widow,—his three children (soon to be four) are fatherless. He could not continue to her and her children his life and its advantages-his affection, diligent labour, and superintending intelligence-these were at the disposal of a higher power; but his family have the additional sorrow of knowing that that which would have been to some extent a mitigation of the calamity—a money compensation-and which was strictly within the power and in the intention of their deceased head to provide for them, has, by his unfortunate delay, been lost.

"There is a moral in this short story which no man can fail to readviz., the necessity not only of the good sense to discover the propriety and desirableness of life assurance, but likewise of the strong sense which discovers and avoids the danger of delay. That death might occur in four, fourteen, or twenty-four years, this gentleman thought probable, and was prepared to guard against it at those remote periods; but that it should overtake him in four months, does not seem to have entered into his calculation, and hence this affecting catastrophe."

Now, how may a working man or small tradesman provide for his family in case of death? I will explain. Take the case of a workman aged thirty. By paying thirteen shillings and fourpence quarterly, or one pound, five shillings, and seven pence half yearly, or two pounds, eight shillings, and ten pence annually, he may secure one hundred pounds to his wife and family, or to any one else, at his death. And every right-feeling man will gladly do this, or something like it. How shall we get the money? is the reply of many.

I have before me two large written statements-the productions of a working man-and they contain a brief history of two men, both of whom are known to me, and perhaps their past