Children wishing to join should fill in their names and residences above and return this paper on a Meeting night of the Band of Hope, held on the SECOND and FOURTH WEDNESDAY of each Month, commencing at Six o'clock in the Evening, and terminating at Eight.

The Superintendent will call with “The Declaration," for signature by the Child whose name is filled in above, and also by the Parent or Guardian, signifying their consent.

Superintendent.

The paper with which the Superintendent calls is simply as follows :— [Name and Address of the Band of Hope.]

THE DECLARATION. No.

By the grace of God, I promise to abstain from all Intoxicating Drinks, and I will try to induce others to do the same.

In conclusion. Let our standard be high, and let us not rest satisfied until it is attained. Let our trust be in God alone, and not in our own might, and let us teach the children fully to comprehend the meaning of the words, "By the grace of God."

By careful and judicious management we may not only make the Band of Hope a blessing to many homes, but may win the respect and sympathy of our fellow sabbath school teachers and other christian friends,. until the necessity for Bands of Hope is acknowledged on all sides, and they become as numerous and prosperous as sabbath schools themselves. The discussion which followed was a very interesting one; but as it was understood to cover the whole ground which had been gone over, it was more remarkable for a variform than a uniform character. But the two papers which excited most attention, eulogy, and debate, were Mr. Harvey and Mr. Stanes's.

Mr. MURPHY thought it was needful just to ask why certain young persons referred to by Mr. Stanes were not eligible to join his Band of Hope? Why medals were given to those only who gained new members? -and why medals were not purchased by the children?-why separate the sexes?—and why give prizes for nosegays and flower-wreaths (would they not bring them from their own parents) ?—and why superintendents should not ask children to join Bands of Hope?

Mr. STANES: Sixty-seven parents had not given their consent; two could not give reasons why they wished to join. Medals are given as marks of honor, and if extended, or if they were purchasable, the honor would not be equal-(hear). He trusted the children as to the nosegays, which were to be wild flowers; and searching for these would get them out of the streets into the fields-(hear). He thought the superintendent

should not ask a child to join; but that the children should work amongst each other; their joining would be more useful if not done under the mere influence of a superintendent's wishes-(hear).

Mr. SPRIGGS said that one of the best-conducted Bands of Hope he knew was at Cheshunt, on which the clergyman exercised a most beneficial influence-(hear). He thought the paper a very admirable one; and that children should, prior to entering a Band of Hope fully, be put on a sort of probation—(hear).

Mr. EATON: In reference to a rule read, which required that a child's hair should be combed and brushed, asked whether, if this were neglected, a child were sent back or excluded? And as to calling the numbers of children on entrance, did not this waste time, and create confusion?--(hear).

Mr. STANES: If children came in the state referred to by Mr. Eaton, they were cautioned as to next time; but if very dirty, they were sent back-(hear). As to calling numbers, each child knew its number; this took a very short time; and, moreover, they took care to open the doors in good time; and this prevented crowding and confusion.

Mr. HAYNES, said: As to superintendents not asking children to join; if some superintendents were not to canvass, they would have no members at all—(hear). As to the medals, he thought that, as a rule, children might be trusted; he had never found one trying to deceive in that respect-(hear).

Mr. STOER said: In reference to the sale of papers, the members of their Bands of Hope went round to the houses of persons, instead of selling on Sundays.

Mr. T. A. SMITH inquired if botanical questions were asked of the children? This was desirable. As to the importance of cleanliness as a branch of experience, why teetotalism proper was altogether a physical education

(hear).

Mr. HUGH JONES would put a question to Mr. Harvey as to the prizes given for essays. Were the writers young?

Mr. HARVEY said they had three different grades, that the young might be brought in.

Mr. HUGH JONES: Are they all invited?

Mr. HARVEY: We allow all the grades to compete for the first prizes. Mr. TIPPER: In reference to the form of pledge recommended by Mr. Stanes not being a vow, he thought it looked very much like one, to use the words "By the grace of God, I purpose or promise ”—(hear). Mr. STANES Said they were careful in explaining the meaning of the words, and that the child should look to God for help.

Mr. HUNT felt there was some question as to the propriety of using the words "By the grace of God," and if a child were not able to give reasons why it wished to join a Band of Hope, should not that child be admitted to the meetings?-(hear).

Mr. STANES: That is provided for—(hear).

Mr. SHIRLEY: Mr. Harvey, in his paper, referred to the use made of their library. Were the books applied for?

Mr. HARVEY: We find our library books are applied for, and are exceedingly well received, both by children and parents. The number of juvenile members in the town is 1,400-(hear, hear). Besides our library, every school in the town has its own book department—(hear, hear). He had listened with great pleasure to Mr. Stanes's excellent paper, but he felt there was a difficulty as to the president not asking a child to join. Ought not a president to exercise influence, an intelligent influence, with this view-(hear, hear)? He could sympathise with his friend against girls reciting in public-(dissent). He had three little girls, and he thought he should not try to cultivate that gift in them—(hear, hear). He objected to giving prizes for such efforts, because he thought they induced self-glorying. Speech was a natural gift. Still he thought that well-conducted meetings were excellent for Bands of Hope. He would, however, have three members' meetings to one public meeting-(hear, hear).

Mr. BECK said he liked the words in Mr. Stanes's pledge" By the grace of God."

Mr. HAYNES said that the Chairman was obliged to leave the meeting to fulfil an engagement elsewhere. He therefore begged to propose a most cordial vote of thanks to him for his great kindness and ability in presiding over them.

Mr. SHIRLEY seconded the proposition, which was carried with exceeding heartiness.

Mr. COSSHAM, in acknowledging the vote, said he had been intensely gratified with the thoroughly practical spirit of the Conference, and especially with Mr. Stanes's admirable paper. It was a good idea to make children work. The pledge was simple. Pledges should be simple, not long, but such as all could sign-(hear, hear). He did not approve of separating the sexes. God mixed the sexes in families, and he (the speaker) liked them mixed in schools; the presence of the boys gave the girls courage; and that of the girls gave the boys softness-(hear, hear). He had faith in medals, wisely given. They gave medals to boys in their employ who were kind to animals: and the last thing before leaving home he received the names of several boys to whom medals were shortly to be given for this-(hear, hear). There was another point; superintendent's influence; a superintendent was responsible for its use and exercise (hear, hear). He wished prosperity to the Band of Hope Union, and hoped that they might all employ their talents and time to the best account--(loud cheers).

Mr. HAYNES was then unanimously called to occupy the chair, and the thread of the discussion was taken up by

Mr. HUNT, who said that he was in favour of girls reciting on platforms under proper management-(hear, hear).

Mr. MCCREE said he had asked Mr. Stanes to prepare the paper, and the experience of that gentleman with his four hundred and twenty boys and girls gave great weight to his recommendations. The boys and girls were not separated-(hear, hear).

Mr. JOSEPH GILPIN said he had had great experience in children's,

adults, and boarding-schools. He agreed with Mr. Stanes that they should not entrap their young friends to sign the Temperance pledge.. He had no doubt that Mr. Stanes had acted from experience, and he thought his practice was the more likely to be successful-(hear, hear.)

Mr. DRAPER, said there were some difficulties elsewhere which Mr. Stanes had not. Mr. Stanes's children could go and gather wild flowers on Primrose-hill, while some of them were surrounded for miles with brick buildings. There were common difficulties, too, with parents, essays, and recitations, which required careful treatment.

Mr. HERMITAGE thought that the monthly meetings of Mr. Stanes were too seldom. He believed in the usefulness of girls reciting, and also in the giving of rewards.

Mr. INSULL said that great care should be taken about the admission of members, as to cleanliness, and as to the instruction in the nature and properties of alcohol. On the last-named subject they needed a good catechism.

Mr. PHILLIPS, of Bradford, said he almost entirely agreed with Mr. Harvey; but while agreeing with many things in Mr. Stanes's essay, there were many which he objected to, and especially to Mr. Stanes's objections to girls reciting. The good in this matter far outweighed the evil-(hear, hear). In Bradford they had a Union, containing seventeen: Bands of Hope. They had issued fifty thousand melodists, and had this year got up one of the noblest meetings ever held in England, at which Mr. Chown had delivered a most capital lecture and address, and for which 400 children had been trained to sing-(hear, hear). He would recommend the formation of unions, and that they should become affiliated with the United Kingdom Band of Hope Union-(hear, hear). Not less than one hundred members had joined the Church from their Bands of Hope; and this fact, and the causes which led to it, had great influence in retaining children, as well as in bringing them to join. (hear, hear).

Mr. MURPHY, referring to modes of management of Bands of Hope, said that he was president of the "Meliora," and that they had in Mr. Parkes a most admirable conductor (hear). They had what he might call a kick-up-(a laugh). A penny a week was paid three months before the time, and then they had a tea-meeting; and then "threading the needle;" and "round and round the mulberry bush;" and the parents went with the children; and, true, they got home rather late— (laughter). But who could think that such gatherings did not do goodto their Bands of Hope, and to all concerned-(hear)? Now, how to get money for their Bands of Hope? There were no such dissolving views in London as the Band of Hope Union views-(hear),—and no such exhibitors (renewed cheers). The means he had pointed out would greatly aid. Their young folks required solid instruction as well as amusement. Now there were many questions still to be asked of such teachers as he, and of the writers of papers and others. For instance, How were excursions paid for? How did the singing go on? How did they conduct their anniversaries? He would quote Old Humphrey; as

furnishing suggestive thoughts to Band of Hope conductors: they should seek to allure, instruct, and impress; and then, by God's blessing, they must succeed-(cheers).

Mr. RIPLEY would like the conference to issue in something like a practical result; such, for instance, as a prize for the best essay on the formation and management of a Band of Hope. This would be most useful-(hear).

Mr. STANES was now called upon to reply. As to the frequency of meetings he met his children twice a month; he could not spare the time weekly; but he tried to make those he had good-(hear). He gave prizes to children for terms of attendance, &c. He conducted his Band of Hope so as to give as little offence as possible to others. He did nothing underhanded; he did not entice or entrap. Those who had signed had signed from conviction and disposition, and had stood well. He was obliged by the kind way in which his paper had been received-(hear).

Mr. HENDRICK, representative of the Irish Temperance League, said he should feel that he had not done his duty if he did not say a few words. He must congratulate the meeting on the delightful character of their proceedings. In Belfast, from which he came the day before, they had twenty Bands of Hope, containing from two thousand to three thousand members. He had come there to learn as much as possible, and to turn it to useful account-(hear).

After a few words from Mr. RUTHERFORD testifying to the usefulness of girls reciting; against the use of the phrase "By the grace of God" in a pledge, and urging still that children should be influenced by the highest motives,

Mr. SHIRLEY, in a few well-timed remarks, moved a vote of thanks to the essayists, the Rev. G. W. McCree, Mr. Symons, Mr. Thomas Anstie, the Rev. E. W. Thomas, Mr. Harvey, and Mr. Stanes, for their valuable papers; the vote was seconded by Mr. Franks, in a brief and neat sentence or two; carried with acclamation, and suitably acknowledged by Mr. Harvey, who took occasion to recommend the Hymn Book published by the Union.

The Rev. T. PHILLIPS moved a thoroughly cordial vote of thanks to the Rev. G. W. McCree for his exceedingly valuable as well as arduous services; this was seconded by Mr. Affleck, who strongly urged that Mr. Garrett's speech at the annual meeting should be printed and issued in a cheap form for circulation. The chairman warmly supported the motion, the meeting ardently passed it, and Mr. McCree in responding to the vote, referred in high terms to the services of his colleagues, and especially to the generous aid which Mr. Samuel Morley had given to the movement.

Mr. AFFLECK announced that Mr. W. Spriggs had kindly contributed a sovereign towards a cheap issue of Mr. Garrett's speech.

The Doxology and the benediction brought to a close, some time after ten o'clock, a series of meetings destined, under God, to have a very important and beneficial bearing on the Temperance reformation in Great Britain, and, therefore, throughout the world.