heir curse; the prisons shall become museums-the workhouses, people's halls and our own dear country shall stand up

The rev.

Great, glorious, and free;

First flower of the land! first gem of the sea!"

. gentleman resumed his seat amid loud and prolonged cheering. The children then sang two more pieces. The first was the round,

"The noblest hero of the whole

Is he who can himself control;"

and the second was, "The Spider and the Fly," which the audience enjoyed so much that they encored it. During the singing a collection was made.

The Rev. R. MAGUIRE, M.A., who was the next speaker, received a special cheer of recognition from the boys in the orchestra, and the aptitude which had won him a little to their special gratitude was probably displayed in the fact that he addressed himself alternately to the audience and to the children.

"Homeward Bound," by the last speaker, was then sung.

The Rev. J. H. WILSON, followed, and alluded to a painting which was exhibited in London, which represented the Queen handing the Bible to an African prince, and telling him that that was the secret of England's greatness. The Band of Hope found its source of power in the Bible. When the Prince of Wales was a baby he had a nurse who was teetotaller; and when this was made known to the Queen she ordered a silver Temperance medal to be presented to the nurse. He was with the Prince in 1849, when his Royal Highness visited a distillery. The proprietors naturally thought that the best hospitality they could offer him would be a taste of their whisky. The Prince put it to his lips, but the moment he tasted it he put it from him with a feeling of utter contempt. Might he ever retain thst distaste for that which had been the curse of Scotland. The rev. gentletnan concluded by singing, "My ain Fireside," to the delight of the audience, who cheered the volunteer vocalist heartily.

The Doxology having been sung, and the benediction pronounced, it appeared that the chairman, had passed over the names of gentlemen who had been set down to move and second a vote of thanks to himself; but before the audience had left their seats the fact was disclosed, and the thanks were given by acclamation.

The proceedings terminated about half-past nine o'clock.

UNITED KINGDOM BAND OF HOPE UNION
CONFERENCES.

These conferences, held at Exeter Hall, in the morning, afternoon, and evening of Wednesday, the 20th ult., fitly supplemented the great public meeting of the previous Monday evening. The latter was a manifestation

of achievements wrought, of hopes realised; the former were designed and adapted for an exchange of ideas on those principles and modes of operation from which those results flowed: nay, more, the conferences implied that difficulties had yet to be surmounted, and plans formed, or modified, or matured, which might extend the area still more thoroughly, spiritualise the tone, and give greater permanency to the effects of Band of Hope labour. Our report of the proceedings at these conferences must, from the obvious necessities of the case, be given in the form of summary rather than in detail. We trust that next year the conferences will be as numerous for attendance as they were this year interesting and important in character.

There were present during the day about 150 delegates and visitorsevidently animated by a very earnest spirit. Indeed, the absence of indifference, of weariness, of levity, may be regarded as well worth noting; yet, as this would almost necessarily suggest, there was no lack of cheerfulness.

The following names, copied from the list of entries, will not be unacceptable to our readers; and may serve in future years for useful reference :

Mr. W. B. Affleck, representing the Northern Auxiliary, embracing 30 Bands of Hope; Mr. E. Barrett, Camberwell; Louisa Barrett, Anchor Band of Hope, Camberwell, 350 members; T. P. Beamish, Coventry, 900; Samuel Back, Dorking; William Bell, Melbourne, Australia; Rev. Dawson Burns, United Kingdom Alliance; Rev. J. P. Butler, London; John Brice, Shadwell society, 160; G. Blaby, Agent, Band of Hope Union; Rebecca Braggins, Limehouse; Edward Bryan, Vauxhall; F. G. Boon, Spa Fields; Carter B. Benn, Surrey Chapel; C. Burlingham, Needham Market; John Bailey, Brixton; Mary Barker, Peckham, Calthorpe terrace; William Henry Brooking, Gray's Inn road, 130; S. Chamberlin, Providence Hall; Miss J. Chapman, Peckham; Mary Ann Clarke, Poplar; John Corke, Southgate; M. Dorel, 8, Great Queen street; Ellis Davenport, Worthing, 110; Stephen S. Dean, Bedford, 500; William Ellis, Southgate; Mary Elizabeth Evans, Horsley street; Thomas Fenton, Sudbury, 140; J. W. Fletcher, Good Samaritan, Band of Hope, 130; J. French, sup., Pill street, Band of Hope, and R. Lary; Moses Franks, Hackington, Lincolnshire; William S. Foot, Bromley-by-Bow, 100; Joseph Sturge Gilpin, Nottingham; W. H. Green, Commercial Road Chapel; Rev. C. Garrett, Preston, 1000: R. Griffiths, Slough, 150; Catherine Grove, North London Sabbath School; George E. Hatton, Chancery lane: Rev. James Harcourt, Borough road, London; Booth Harris; W. B. Harvey, Frome, Somerset, 2,000; C. H. Searl, and Mrs. Searl, Fox and Knot court, Smithfield, 75; Edward Henry, Ellen Mary, and Lucy Hermitage, of the Vulcan Band of Hope; George Hinde, Shadwell; James Hitchens, Bethel Band of Hope, Gravesend, 210; George T. Huns, Bishopsgate; Mary Hutson, Limehouse; G. Hurst, and Mrs. Hurst, Elstree street, Gower street; B. Harvey, Little Denmark street; W. J. Haynes, Forest hill, Treasurer of the Band of Hope Union; Samuel Insull, Westminster road; William H. James, Barnsbury, 100; H. Jones, London; T. Jones, City of London Temperance Association, 200; Elias Lane, Christchurch, Hants, 500; J. Lesiter, Stoke Newington; Charles Lymer, Whitfield Chapel Band of Hope; John and Mark Mantle,

Vauxhall Band of Hope, 80; Rev. T. J. Messer and Mr. W. P. Thomas, visitors; W. A. Marsh, Dorking; Samuel A., Ellen E., and Rachel L. Maw, Needham Market; G. M. W. Mills, Commercial Road Sunday School; Rev. G. W. McCree, Secretary Band of Hope Union; Mrs. McCree; George M. Murphy, Meliora Band of Hope, Kent street, London; the Hon. and Rev. Leland Noel, M.A.; Edward Nean, Leiston, Suffolk; J. Needham, Gee street, Goswell road; Robert Nichol, Shadwell; W. Oakes, Stepney; J. G. Owens, Lambs' Conduit place; J. W. Oxley, M.D., John street, Bedford row, Band of Hope; Miss Parisenne, Bishopsgate; Joseph Payne, Esq.. Temple, London; G. J. Peawrie, Camberwell; I. Phillips, Band of Hope Union, Bradford, Yorkshire, 4,000; Mr. S. G. Greenough, of London, and H. Sewell, of Bradford; Councillor Pollard, visitor, Bradford; Rev. T. Phillips, Earl's Barton, 160; William Pierce, Wrexham; George Prichard, Lambeth; Miss Pitt, Cirencester, 400; Philip Parker; Robert Rae, Secretary, National Temperance League; John Ripley, Leicester; John Rutherford, Princes Street Sunday School Band of Hope, Northampton, 130; J. T. Spooner, St. Clement Danes; Stephen Shirley, of the Band of Hope Union Committee; Wm. J. Symons, New Bridge street, Vauxhall; C. Starling, Agent, Band of Hope Union; R. B., Mrs., and Miss M. Starr, 4, Victoria street, Holborn hill; Edward B. Storr, Kentish Town Band of Hope, 120; Edward Stephens and John Byland, Working Men's Club Temperance Association, Duck Lane, Westminster; Wm. Spriggs, National Temperance League; Frederic Smith, Agent, Band of Hope Union; Thos. A. Smith, of the National Temperance League; James Thompson, Southgate; Henry H. Tipper, Whitechapel; David and Francis Tuffeny, Anchor Band of Hope; W. Thomas, Gee street, Goswell road; David Thomas, Whitfield Chapel Band of Hope; C. D. Udall, of the Band of Hope Union Committee; W. A. Benning, Kingsland Band of Hope; J. S. Walters; Elizabeth Webber, Britannia Fields Sunday School, 65; William West, Chapham; J. Wood, 8, Great Queen street; and Thomas Irving White, Leicester.

The Rev. Dr. BURNS, on taking the chair, gave out the 18th Hymn in the "Band of Hope Union Hymn Book," which was sung, after which the Rev. G. W. MCCREE read the Scriptures, and the Rev. C. GARRETT implored the Divine blessing on the proceedings of the day.

The CHAIRMAN, in an excellent address, expressed the opinion that the success of the temperance cause mainly depended on the success of unmistakable temperance amongst the young. The mother of Samson, the Hercules of the ancient world, was directly commanded by the angel of the Lord, not to give to her child wine or strong drinks. If abstinence were good in his case, must it not be good in others? With children the work was plain; it was sailing on the Pacific ocean; and it was important to the church, to temperance societies, to the world, that we should preserve our children from intemperance. The sights which most offended their eyes in London were those connected with the intemperate habits, the Sabbath-breaking, and the foul language of the young. The Chairman referred in terms of high approval to the meeting of Monday night: to the speeches generally, to the speech especially of the chairman, Mr. Samuel Morley; and to that of the Rev. Mr. Garrett: the substance of which, at least, he hoped might be printed and circulated

throughout the kingdom. He felt that they were greatly indebted, and society generally was greatly indebted, to the Rev. G. W. McCree, on whom he would call to open the proceedings of the day.

Rev. G. W. MCCREE, having read a letter from Mr. W. E. Saunders, of Plymouth, on the importance of forming an auxiliary to the Band of Hope Union in the West of England, which was well received, then read the following interesting paper, on

THE EXISTING NECESSITY FOR BANDS OF HOPE, AND MOTIVES FOR THEIR EXTENSION.

Bands of Hope are temperance societies for children and young persons. They were first formed in 1845-6, and at once commanded the suffrages of thoughtful and benevolent individuals. That they have preserved vast numbers of the young from the blighting influence of intemp nperance cannot be doubted, and had they been better conducted, more efficiently organised, and more zealously multiplied by those who are specially responsible for the education and moral training of children, the number of sober and christian persons would have been larger than it is.

Intemperance is an ancient evil. Primitive nations were corrupted by it, and remote communities were weakened and destroyed by it. Jews, Assyrians, Romans, Greeks, Persians, Europeans, Americans, and Australians, have, in successive ages, had to deplore its accursed power. Its victims have been found amid primeval forests, on mountain slopes, in splendid cities, in rude hamlets, in lovely islands encircled by the glittering waters of shining seas, on fields of battle, in peaceful valleys filled with corn, and bright with flowers, in busy factories, in the school, the senate, and the holy house where prayer is wont to be made. Prisons have been filled with its votaries. The scaffold has reeked with the blood of its victims. Every generation, every country, every church, and ever household has had to deplore ng-continued and destructive reign. That reign has not ceased. The present generation has seen many empires fall, and many kings forced to "flee apace," but the empire of Intemperance still towers like a dark mountain, and King Alcohol still sways his sceptre over a great multitude of nations, and, alas! like Goliath, can and does boldly proclaim, "I defy the armies of Israel this day."

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We do not affirm that nothing has been done to assail and cripple the power of this cruel monster-Intemperance. The men of Preston have not lived in vain. Their successors have not toiled for nought. Future generations will award illustrious praises to them, and hand down their names with honour to the future. There is not a statesman, preacher, journalist, teacher, parent, or workman in this country who does not now witness, in his own circle, and in the vast social movements of the century the mighty puissance of temperance truth. The word "Teetotalism" is now an integral part of the Anglo-Saxon language, and will, we believe, rise in the ascendant from age to age, and the principles which it announces have wrought moral miracles, which have made th world to feel that a great power is working glorious changes in the customs and life of modern society.

But the battle is not won,-the foe is not dead. Intemperance is still the colossal evil of our time. No section of our community is free from It continues to ruin the bodies and souls of men.

its malefic presence.

If so, then, Bands of Hope are as necessary as ever.

I invite the courteous attention of this Conference to this proposition, namely The present state of Society demontrates the importance of training the children of the age to abstain from Intoxicating Drinks.

The census of 1851 showed that on the 31st of March in that year there were 21,000,000 of persons in Great Britain. Of these there were 2,700,000 children under five years of age; above 2,440,000 aged five and under ten years of age; and above 2,245,000 aged ten and under fifteen years. Every one of these children is exposed to fearful temptations from strong drinks. Pure, merry, and beloved, thousands of them in the course of a few years will have become impure, wretched, and perhaps hated in consequence of intemperate habits. Some of them will, no doubt, become the parents of diseased and lawless children, and thus the fatal circle of intemperance will widen from year to year.

It is notorious that large numbers of young persons become drunkards. I preached to the crowd assembled to witness the execution of Joseph Brooks, at the Old Bailey, and close to me was a young girl under the debasing influence of the bottle. Not long ago a friend of mine entered a gin-shop on a Sunday evening, and found seventeen boys consuming ardent spirits. Their language, I need not say, was profane and obscene. On May 11th, Timothy Brown, a rough boy, aged fifteen, was charged at Marlborough Street with having been drunk, and while in that state assaulted and stabbed his mother in the face and back. Mr. J. Symons, in his Prison Reports, speaking of Leeds, says: :-"I went, accompanied by Inspector Childs, to visit the low places of resort of the working classes. We started soon after nine o'clock, and visited about a score of beer and public houses. In the beer shops there were several mere children; and in almost all were prostitutes. These places were thronged. In one, dancing was going on in a good-sized room, where I found a dozen couples performing a country dance; the females were all factory girls and prostitutes. Not one of these dancers, boys or girls, was above twenty-one years of age." The Rev. F. Bishop, thus describes the music saloons of Liverpool after having visited fourteen of them :-"In every instance, I marked the presence of abandoned women. In one of the rooms there were 150 persons- -a third boys. In another of higher character 400 persons, a fourth of whom consisted of youths of both sexes. The best conducted of the rooms I fear the most. In some the songs and singers are too disgusting to be dangerous: but in the better conducted a thin gauze of propriety is thrown over all the scenes. A few are open on a Sunday evening. I lately looked in at one. The audience was small, and mostly intoxicated. I heard the Old Hundred Psalm sung, the Hallelujah Chorus, Bishop Ken's Evening Hymn, and the Jubilate Deo. The organ was a large one. It was a melancholy thing to see and hear this group singing, in such a place and such a company, We are His People and the Sheep of His Pasture."" What has

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