stood three tall white candles; and on the fourth side lay a sheathed sword. Near the head of the catafalque stood a white pillar bearing a golden censer. After a large bell had tolled the hour, a trumpet call, arranged from 'Lohengrin,' was executed. Four sentinels entered and, after affixing a blazing torch at each corner of the bier, commenced pacing before the sombre pile. They were followed soon by the officers and members of the lodge, attired in black robes and berettas, and broad sashes containing the nine symbolic colors. The officers also wore brilliant jewels. The solemn procession made a circuit of the bier, to the music of Beethoven's Funeral March, and took their seats. The lodge was then declared open, and after more music there were addresses. Then the candles were put out one by one, and the roll of the deceased members was read. Then the Master of ceremonies, lighting a flambeau, flashed it before the catafalque three times, each time calling to the deceased: We mourn for thee.' 'We call upon thee to answer.' 'Do you year our call? After more music and addresses the tolling bell announced 'Low XII.' midnight, typifying the depth of sorrow. After this, the gas lights, which had been subdued, were turned up and then began the ceremonies illustrating 'faith,' 'hope,' and the 'resurrection.' In this we have the ancient forms of mourning for the dead, the heathen ceremony of propitiating the evil spirits by fire and finally the triumphant resurrection, without any reference to Him who is 'the resurrection and life.' Yet this idolatry holds in favor with the masses through the supposed approbation by Christian churches."

Having understood that there were some who read the Essay hereinabove alluded to, who questioned whether the institution of the secret, oath-bound lodge, could really be so objectionable as was mentioned, I believe it right to cite two or three further corroborative testimonies which have come incidentally to my notice since the article was written.

rules might forbid the drinking of liquors in the
room, it was usual, nevertheless, to adjourn to a
saloon, where some would stay and carouse until
long after midnight.

A Friend, travelling on a train west of Pitts-
burg, a few months ago, fell into conversation
with a brakeman, who, after descanting on the
excellencies of the Masonic rules and ritual,
ended with the remark: "If I live up to that, I
won't need any other religion."

the light, and choose darkness, we shall be left to our choice; but leanness and darkness will cover the soul. If we prefer darkness, as Israel did, we may expect the light to be withdrawn, leaving the darkness to be very great.

In this condition there is danger of a fatal mistake in religion. We may take the emotional teachings and the leadings of "mystery Babylon the great," for a "remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit" from the King of Zion, the city of Finally, it was only yesterday that a worthy the saints' solemnities-which brings forth the minister of Congregational affiliations said to me peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are that he had lately met with one, a minister in exercised thereby. But by those who love darkour religious Society, who, admitting that he be-ness rather than light, those heavenly things will longed to several secret orders, was offended at never be seen: as their eyes they have closed. my informant because he declared his disunity And to such it might be said, "Ephraim is joined with the lodges. It is greatly to be regretted to idols; let him alone,"-a sorrowful condition that any of our members should be caught in indeed! We can pity, but not restore. such entangling alliances, where others may stumbled by their example. JOSIAH W. LEEDS.

For "The Friend."

be

Babylon and Zion.
"Babylon is built in the likeness of Zion, but
by another spirit." And the children of Babylon
are governed by the god of this world; while the
children of Zion are governed by the God of
heaven. So there is a true and a false to every-
thing pertaining to religion; a true worship and
a false; a true ministry and a false; true prayer
and false; true singing and false. And there is
an outward ear to hear outward things; and an
inward ear to hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches. And there is an outward eye, and
outward understanding, to enable us to read and
understand the outward law, which is given for
the government of the natural man; and there
is an inward eye and an inward or spiritual un-
derstanding given, that the man of God may
read and understand the law of the Spirit of life
in Christ Jesus.

This inward law and light, as it is believed in
and obeyed, leads us more and more away from
In pursuance of a request, I was present at under the government of the king of Babylon,
the hearing, before a magistrate, of two men who now so wonderfully rules and reigns in the
charged with the offence of offering and circu- hearts of the children of disobedience; although
lating papers of a highly immoral character. they are professing to walk in the ways of Zion,
One of the defendants in extenuating his unlaw-and to be governed by the King of heaven. Oh!
ful act, deposed that he belonged to quite a
number of secret societies-the Grand Army
among the rest and that (to use his words)" as
is the usual custom, we were in the way of hav-
ing a social after the lodge business was done,
having a free and easy time, with songs," &c.
The specimen submitted was of such a character
that the defendant was held in heavy bail to an-

swer at court.

"the deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish," &c. But there is a light offered to all the darkened sons of Adam, by which as it is received, believed in and obeyed, they will be enabled to see the difference between the power of the King of Zion, and of the king of Babylon; and to detect the workings of Satan, producing discord and confusion in our families and in our churches. But where the god of this world has A citizen who is known to many Friends, a been suffered to blind the eyes of them that beman of excellent character, stated to me that he lieve not, they cannot discern the difference. So had belonged to the extensive order known as they "call evil good, and good evil; put darkthe "Knights of Pythias," but that he had sev-ness for light, and light for darkness; put bitter ered his conection therewith, and that he does not see how one could be a religious man and remain in membership with such an organization. It was (and is) the custom once a year for the Grand Lodge to appoint committees, who visit the Subordinate Lodges for the purpose of It was said of Israel of old, (Matt. xiii. 14, installing the officers who have been elected for 15) "By hearing ye shall hear, and not under the ensuing term, but who cannot assume their stand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perpositions until they have bound themselves by ceive: for this people's heart is waxed gross, and oath to obey all mandates emanating from the their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes Supreme and Grand Lodge (no matter how it have they closed; lest at any time they should may differ from their own ideas of right or wrong.) see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and While awaiting admission to the lodge room they should understand with their hearts, and should would indulge in conversation and reading of a be converted, and I should heal them," &c. decidedly vulgar character; and again, after the They voluntarily closed their eyes against the business of the lodge was concluded, though the light, and so may we. If we turn away from

for sweet, and sweet for bitter, and are wise in
their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight."
But it may turn out to be the case that "that
which is highly esteemed among men, is abomi-
nation in the sight of God."

From whence does the ministry which belongs to the wisdom and will-worship of man, get its support and life? Does it get it from the school of Christ, and from the Teacher who teaches as never man taught? Or does it not far more likely spring from the colleges of men, and the wis dom of this world that knows not God? but which is foolishness with God. But it suits the worldly wise, and gets the applause of men, which is idolatry; while it leads away from Zion, and strengthens the stakes of Babylon. Because it is not from the heart, but from the head; not from the Spirit that giveth life; but from the letter that killeth. Those who are taken in the snares of popularity, are carried captive to Babylon the great; the mother of all the false births, or of all who, while they are arrayed in Babylonish garments, are professing to be the true-born children of God; and to sing the songs of Zion. But they cannot sing the Lord's song in a strange land, where their harps are bung upon the willows in the midst of the streams of confusion.

How do the ways of our Zion mourn because so few living ones come to her solemn feasts. It is because the attachments of Babylon, and the allurements thereof, are so strong on the children of nature, that so many are drawn into the broad way of the world, and so few find the narrow way to life everlasting. The attractions of Zion are peculiar to herself, and are not adorned with the merchandise of Babylon, which consists in "gold and in silver, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and even in the souls of men.' For many sell their souls in exchange for the merchandise of Babylon. But the children of Zion are not adorned in the robes of Babylon. Because they are not of the world, even as Christ, their leader, is not of the world, and He bade his children to "keep unspotted from the world:" hating even the garments that are spotted by the flesh. So the Church of Zion, even though she may be in the minority, is commanded to "come out of Babylon, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: for her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquity."

The teaching of the King of Zion, the only true God, will lead us by his light away from all mere human mediation, and interference, to a direct relationship and communion with our Creator. It will call us away from all merely intellectual or human teachers, to Christ within, the great Teacher of teachers; from outward rites to inward experience; from the baptism of water, to the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost; from the bread and wine of the sacramental board, to the spiritual communion of the table in the heart, where we can partake mystically of the flesh and blood of

beautiful; walked to the top of Shakespeare's
Cliff: enjoyed the scene, the refreshing air, the
hope of renewed strength and fuller service."
"As I taught the little children to-day it seemed
wonderful in how small a compass is contained
the whole sum and substance of Christian religion.
Volumes without end, years of study, years of
controversy, immense thought, immense eloquence
all expended and mostly wasted to dilute or tor-
ture that which may be comprehended by the
understanding and relished by the soul of a
simple child. Will all the learning in the
world, all the meditation of the profoundest
spirits, add to the plain facts of the fall of man
and his salvation by Christ? Little but per-
plexity and the embarrassment of that which is
intrinsically simple!"
Lord Shaftesbury was loved and revered by
his children with an intense affection and rever-
ence, and scarcely less so by his servants. "In
1883," says his biographer, "when speaking on
behalf of the Aged Pilgrim's Friend Society, he
referred to the fact that his housekeeper had been
fifty-two years in his service; that, as nurse, she
had brought up all his children, not one of them
would ever think of retiring to rest in his house
without bidding 'good night' to that female
patriarch.' He did not, of course, say what was
nevertheless the fact, that every morning it was
his habit to shake hands with that aged house-
keeper, and enquire after her health and of
things that were of interest in her little world.
He had exemplified the saying of old Philip
Quarles, 'If thou wouldst have a good servant,
let the servant find a good master."

<

and powers awakened into fresh activity, conse
crated anew by sorrow.
It was the prayer of his old age that he might

together on the subject of personal religion. It
sheds a lustre over every public effort for the
good of others, when it is known that this was
but an extended phase of the work that had been" die in harness," and the
prayer was answered
going on in his own home."
To the very last he labored on, his faculties
keenly alive, his heart tender as ever, his sym-
pathies just as fresh and his plans as numerous as
at any other period of his life.

Nor was this a solitary illustration. Like
testimony to the influence of home teaching was
borne by his son Maurice, who died in Switzer-
land, and his daughter Mary, who died at Tor-
quay, both in early life.

Then came a day, while he was at Folkestone seeking health, when he took a chill and ceased The darkest and most terrible year in the life forever from active work. Then, undisturbed by of Lord Shaftesbury was the year 1872. His fear of death, unshaken in faith, and in full as daughter Constance had been for some years insurance of hope, he calmly waited the end. declining health, which necessitated her winter- During the interval which elapsed, he used to ing in the Riviera. The devotion of her parents ask his daughters and his valet-whichever hap to her is a home picture of singular beauty, but pened to be present-to read to him portions of it has a reverse side of singular sadness. Over-the Bible he named to them. Every morning he strung by excessive watchfulness and nursing, begged that the twenty-third Psalm, that short the health of Lady Shaftesbury gave way. The cry of hope, beginning, 'The Lord is my shep best of medical advice was obtained, and recovery herd; I shall not want,' might be read to him. seemed certain, insomuch that on a day in October Fully conscious to the last moment, he passed, she was able to take the air in a carriage drive. without pain or sigh or struggle, into the ineffable But in the evening of that day there was a relapse, light. and, on the following day, while his heart was breaking, the stricken husband turned to his diary with that strange instinct which had all through his life, made it to him as a safety-valve for pouring out the pent up fires of his soul, and he wrote:

"Oct, 15th, 1872.-Minny, my own Minny, is gone. God took her soul to himself at about twelve o'clock this morning. She has entered into her rest, and has left us to feel the loss of the purest, gentlest, kindest, sweetest and most confiding spirit that ever lived. Oh, my God, what a blow! But we bow before thee in resignation and sorrow. Almost her last words were, None but Christ, none but Christ.'** What do I not owe to her, and to thee, O God, for the gift of her?"

In a letter to a friend, Lady Gainsborough, he says: "During the space of forty years that God, in his special and undeserved mercy allowed me to live in union with that inestimable woman, there was an increase and no abatement of love on either side. And now that He has taken her, I must believe that it is a continuance, and not a withdrawal of his mercy; and I bow before Him with reverence and gratitude for his past goodness."

The words of Scripture are most appropriate to him, "When the ear heard him it blessed him, and when the eye saw him it gave witness to him, because he delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him, and he caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. He was eyes to the blind and feet was he to the lame. He was a father to the poor."-Job xxix.

Natural History, Science, &c. Pearl Oysters. In the gulf of California there are extensive pearl-fisheries. The pearls are found inside of a species of oyster that grows at the bottom of the Gulf. The district is about three hundred miles in length, extending out from the shore some ten miles. Most of the fishing is done by native Mexicans or half-breed Indians, who dive for them from boats. The divers take heavy stones in their hands to help them reach the bottom. They also which they fill with oysters. A good diver can go down fifty feet and remain under water from two minutes to two minutes and a quarter. Diving is not an unhealthy business, and there is no danger from sharks.

In 1847, his second son, Francis, a boy of sixteen, and a singularly striking character, was taken ill at Harrow, where he was at school, and the sickness was unto death." He knew his danger, but he knew also his hope. "Never have I known till now," wrote Lord Shaftesbury in his diary, "what I am possible to lose! Read to me,' he said about the forgiveness of sins.' We then read and talked much of the free and full mercy of God in Christ Jesus. Above all, I urged him, as a calmer to every apprehension, to bear ever in mind that God is love; that human love is capable of great things; what then must be the height and depth and intensity of Divine love! Know nothing,' we said, 'think of nothing but Christ Jesus, and Him crucified," " The loss of the mother was a terrible shock to "After he had learned his extreme danger Lady Constance, the suffering daughter, and the from the medical attendants, he said to me, Is only hope of her sustaining it was to go at once to it so?' I replied that it was. He then called the warmer shores of the Mediterranean. Mentone me, saying "Come fear to me, dear papa.' I was reached a month after the death of Lady went and knelt down by his bedside; he threw Shaftesbury. Inexpressibly sad were the days his blessed arms around my neck and kissed me that followed. Then came a day when the invalid for a very long time, and then said, 'I want to daughter "became suddenly quite herself, as in thank you, dearest papa, for having brought me the days of strength and joy. She sat up in bed, up as you have done for having brought me her face was radiant with inward pleasure, she up religiously. I now feel all the comfort of it; spoke to every one around. 'Dearest papa,' said it is to you I owe my salvation.' 'No, dearest she, 'do not give way. I want to bless you now for boy, I replied, 'it is the grace of God! Yes, it is all that you have taught me. **Christ is very true,' he said,' but you were made the instrument near me, she said. **Soon after, she exclaimed, of it. Is there not consolation, almost divine, I know that I am going to die, for I feel so in those precious sentences?"***" Yesterday happy?' With these words she fell into a soft spread to dry in the sun. it pleased Almighty God to take our blessed sleep. In a short time she was gone; and no one Francis. It was the work of a moment, and we could mark the moment of her departure. ** price. were like amazed persons, so great had been the She said, 'Christ is very near!' I think she promise, not many seconds before, of returning must have perceived something we did not." strength and vivacity. Yet we must not murmur or repine, for all is wisdom and mercy and love

that cometh from God. The child, we doubt not, is with Christ, which is far better.'

It opens up a beautiful page in a man's life, when it can be seen that there was between himself and his children such absolute confidence and affection that they could speak unreservedly

wrung his heart, he sorrowed as a Christian; but
As loss after loss of those he so tenderly loved
within three months of the time when the
closed over his beloved ones, he was again in the
grave
midst of his old work, toiling with a vigor that
had never been surpassed; and to the poor, the
suffering, and the sad, he went forth from his
own grief with a heart overflowing with sympathy

carry

baskets

A more extensive business is carried on by means of divers clad in marine armor. These go in schooners fitted out with all the necessities for a voyage of four or five months. The armorclad divers sometimes go down more than & hundred feet deep, but the pressure is so great that it produces rheumatism, and the armordivers rarely live to be more than thirty-five or forty years of age.

are opened, examined for pearls, the beards of As soon as the oysters are in the boat they soft portions cut off, and the rest thrown into tubs. When the day's work is over, the pieces in the tub are carefully examined again, and then shipped to China where they command a high The dried oysters are

covering.

The common opinion is that a pearl is caused by a grain of sand or some other similar subthe oyster, which thereupon encloses it in a smooth stance finding its way into the shell, and irritating but such substances are always glued to the inner This is not true of the pearl proper, side of the shell, and are covered with "nacre, the well known " these substances thus imbedded are very curious mother-of-pearl." Some of The writer has seen a parasite, a worm nearly

"

two inches long, thus coffined in a most gorgeous crust of mother-of-pearl strong enough to hold him tight, and yet showing his shape perfectly. The real pearl is probably the effect of a disease. It is always found imbedded in the muscular portion of the oyster, It begins as a sac filled with a clear liquid like water. At a later stage the water thickens, becoming first cloudy, then like jelly, and finally hardening into the perfect pearl. Specimens have been found in all stages, but it is not yet decided whether the sac increases in size during the hardening process.-Christian Union.

same.

He

says:

The paramount considerations for the promotion
of health are an abundance of pure air and sun-
shine and out-door exercise. Without these no
climate is promotive of health or propitious for
the cure of disease; and with them, it is safe to
say, the human powers of accommodation are
such that it is difficult to distinguish the pecu-
liarities of any climate by their joint results on
the health and longevity of its subjects.-Bell's
Climatology.

Items.

The three most powerful of these denominations,
arranged in the order of the number of their com-
municants, are the Methodist, Roman Catholic, and
Baptist. In the table, the Roman Catholic member-
ship is placed the highest; but this includes all the
members of their families; while in the other two,
only those are included who have joined the

churches, and are communicants.
Methodists,

Roman Catholics,
Baptists,

4,532,658
7,000,000
3,727,207
1,082,436
930,830
436,379
430,531

appointed to the Conference proposed to be held at Richmond, Indiana, next fall.

The Minutes of the Representative Meeting showed that it had under its care the subject of a catechism. It was continued in its charge. It was decided, after the present year, to sever the connection of N. Y. Yearly Meeting with "The Associated Committee on Indian Affairs." The Yearly Meeting next year is again to meet at Glen Falls.

THE FRIEND.

SIXTH MONTH 18, 1887.

In the remarkable narrative preserved by John Richardson of Peter Gardner, it is stated that when he was at Scarborough, on his way to Scotland, whither he was drawn in the service of his Divine Master, he left John's house early in the morning, and without outward information, went to the house of a Friend, and was invited to see his wife who was sick. 'He went up stairs, and sitting down retiredly by her side, in an awful and solemn manner, said, 'Thou hast long had a concern on thy mind to visit the churches in America, but thy husband has hindered thee;' and told her, The will and resignation of her mind was accepted for the deed, and she was excused from the journey which was before her; and should die in peace with God and man. Then addressing her husband, he said, 'Thy wife had a concern to visit the churches in another country beyond the sea, but thou wouldst not give her leave; so she shall be taken from thee;' and added, 'Thy wife will be happy; but the Lord will blast both thee and thine; for behold the Lord's hand is against thee, and thou shalt be reduced to want thy bread.'

A Tortoise Going into Winter Quarters.-C. -The Churches of the United States.-The IndeC. Abbott, in his Wasteland Wanderings, dependent of Fifth Mo. 19th, gives a statistical exhibit of the number of members belonging to the prinscribes the motions of a land-tortoise when pre-cipal religious denominations in the United States, paring to into winter quarters. go "It drawn from official sources where practicable. The was one that I had had in my yard for several eleven branches of the great Baptist family which years. Twice I saw it preparing for hibernation, it mentions, are grouped together under one head; and the process in each case was precisely the and so also of the fourteen divisions of the MethoThe animal chose a spot at some distance dists, and of the different sections of the Presby terians, Mennonites, &c. from any tree, as though desirous of escaping contact with roots as it descended into the earth. Without protruding its head, the tortoise first dug a shallow pit but a mere trace larger in circumference than its shell. The fore feet only were used to displace the earth, but with its hind feet, at times, it would effectually scatter this loose earth in every direction. When the depth of the pit was such that the animal could no longer dig without standing on its head, it rested upon all-fours in the shallow pit, and commenced immediately the task of lowering itself still deeper into the earth. By exercising great care I was enabled to see the beginning of the work, and the same method was doubtless continued unto the end. By a vigorous scratching with all four feet, the earth beneath the creature's plastron was first brought to the sides of the little pit, and then slowly was pushed upward until it formed a rim of sand about the margin of the carapace. There was a slight sidewise dipping motion of the creature's body all the while, but I judged that by the feet alone it not only loosened the earth beneath but worked it upward. However this may be, the quantity of this displaced earth was gradually increased until the tortoise disappeared. Just a day later I dug down to the animal and found that it had gone to a depth of fifteen inches, and the earth displaced and scattered was not one-twentieth of what it had actually removed from beneath and worked above it in the manner I have described." He thinks that many of the smaller animals which burrow in the earth, make their holes in a somewhat similar manner by displacing the particles of earth, without throwing out much of

it.

Bamboo Shoots as Food.-Lady Cumming in her travels in China, mentions on one occasion meeting large parties of men returning from the hills with baskets of bamboo shoots, generally about eighteen inches long by four thick. They are used as vegetables. Some had large bundles of much younger shoots, resembling overgrown asparagus. Some of the latter she had for sup

per,

Presbyterians,

Mennonites,

100,000

97,711

35,550

Friends,

Adventists,
Universalists,

Unitarians,
Moravians,
New Jerusalem,

20,000
10:686
5,015

"In about two weeks after, the man's wife died, as Peter had foretold. At that time, the same man had three ships at sea; his son was master of one, his second son was on board another; and, in their voyages, they were all wrecked or foundered, and their cargoes chiefly lost. So that, from considerable affluence, he was soon after reduced so low as to be maintained by Friends."

-The Color Line. The same Journal (The Independent) states that the Episcopal Diocesan Conthe subject of admitting colored parishes, and minvention of South Carolina had a hot discussion on isters to a representation in the Convention. The decision reached appeared to be in favor of the admission of colored delegates, and the lay representa- The lesson so strikingly conveyed by this tives of fourteen parishes announced in consequence narrative of our dependence on the Divine blesstheir withdrawal, together with five of the clergy.ing, is one that we need ever to keep in rememThe seceders established an independent conven- brance. A man may be conscious of the possession tion. An overture was sent to them, expressing the of good natural abilities and these may have regret of the Convention at the course they had pursued, and inviting them to return. This they been improved by careful training. He may declined to do, except upon conditions which were have much of this world's goods; and may hold not acceded to. such a position in civil or religious society as to In commenting upon this action, a writer from open before him a wide field for the exercise of men in the South Carolina Diocese has been grow- advantages, and is unwilling to submit himself to Baltimore says that the opposition to colored clergy- his talents. But if he becomes elated with these ing more decided for several years; and he inti-the government of Christ, preferring to retain mates that it was believed the Standing Committee of that body had refused testimonials to candidates for the ministry, solely because they were colored.

-Gambling at Horse-Races.-The Legislature of New York enacted a law on the 12th of Fifth Month, legalizing pool-selling at horse-races. The Gov ernor was earnestly entreated by a deputation of those who were concerned for the preservation of public morals, to veto the bill; but he permitted it to become a law.

the control of his life in his own hands, and thus rejecting the counsels of the Almighty, the blessing of the Lord will surely be withdrawn from himunless he becomes humble and repentant. And when that blessing is withdrawn, he will surely come to loss. Some men, as in the instance above mentioned, have their outward prospects blasted. Others, through want of that sustaining grace which alone can enable any to endure temptation, yield to their own passions and inclinations, and sink deep into disgrace. Others, while maintaining an outward respectability, lose all tenderness of spirit, become thoroughly worldlyminded, and must be classed with the multitude who enter in the "wide gate," and journey in the "broad way" that leadeth to spiritual destruction.

and found them fresh and tender. Lichens. Some years ago it was announced by some European naturalists, that the Lichens, which we find everywhere encrusting rocks and The iniquity of the practice is shown by one of the bark of trees, are in fact compound organisms, the provisions introduced into the act, which makes the bark of trees, are in fact compound organisms, it a felony, punishable with imprisonment, to do at formed by the spores of an Alga and a Fungus germinating together and the tissue of each any other time and place, that which it authorizes germinating together and the tissue of each to be done at the time and place where the races running into the other. Bounier, a French occur. naturalist has recently gone over the ground, and by experiment produced the same results. Too Much Importance Attached to Climate.

-New York Yearly Meeting.-At this meeting, which convened on the 27th of Fifth Month, at Glen Falls, six men and thee women delegates were

He who has known the workings of Divine

grace for his salvation, knows that there is no true peace, and no living hope for the future, save in an unreserved submission to the Lord, and such an union with Him in spirit that his own will becomes subjected to the Divine will. And if, at any time, through unwatchfulness or the weakness of the flesh, he breaks his covenant with the Lord, he cannot rest satisfied until he he has some evidence of being restored into favor, through repentance and forgiveness. How earnestly is such an one led to adopt the prayer of David, after he had sinned,-"Take not thy Holy Spirit from me!"

His own experience will lead such an one to have compassion on others who may go astray. For he will feel, as I. Pennington expresses-"It is of the infinite mercy and compassion of the Lord, that his love visiteth pure any of us; and it is by the preservation thereof alone, that we stand. If he leave us at any time, but one moment, what are we? And who is there that provoketh him not to depart? Let him throw the first stone at him that falls."

William E. Gladstone's recent tour does not seem to have forwarded the cause of Liberal reunion. The English Liberal Association has passed resolutions regretting that, while Gladstone makes minor concessions with reference to his Irish bill of 1886, he adheres to the plan of an Irish Parliament, and expressing the conviction that his speeches in Wales will discourage the hope of reunion, which the Liberal-unionists desire. An exceptionally stormy winter and numerous heavy snow-falls account to a large extent for the present disastrous floods in Hungary. It is stated that no amount of dyke inspection can prevent the occurrence of floods in the Theiss Valley until the Government undertakes the regulation of the Danube at the iron gates, as provided for in the Treaty of Berlin.

A dispatch from St. Petersburg, dated Sixth Mo. 8th, and received in Berlin, says: "The Czar is incensed at the tone adopted by the Russian press in regard to his foreign policy. The Czar aims at maintaining peace, and his policy emphasizes the tradition of amity between Russia and Germany." Another despatch of the same date to the Neue Freire Presse, says that Askabad has been occupied by 20,000 Russian troops.

Severe shocks of earthquake have occurred at Vermeasure, 126 were Republicans, 13 were Democrats, 1 nome, in Turkestan. The town was almost entirely Independent Republican, 1 Independent Democrat and destroyed. One hundred and twenty persons were 1 Independent. Of the 77 recorded against it 17 were killed and 125 injured. Among the latter is General Republicans, 58 Democrats and 2 Independent Demo-Friede the Governor of the Province of Semi Retchinsk.

Shocks still continue to be felt at intervals. The inhabitants of the town are panic-stricken, and have fled for safety to the open country.

The Lower Danube, which has heretofore been without that fish, has been stocked with 500,000 eels.

A man in Iowa has introduced to notice a new fuel, which is expected to take the place of coal in the prairie countries. This fuel is made by grinding cornstalks and coarse prairie grass together, moistening them, and then pressing the pulp into blocks about twelve inches long and four inches thick and dried. It is claimed that one block will give an hour's steady FRIENDS' ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE. heat, and that the fuel can be produced for $3 per ton. His trial for bribery is said to be costing Jacob Near Frankford, (Twenty-third Ward,) Philadelphia. Sharp (N. Y.) over $75,000, and it is added, that the Physician and Superintendent JOHN C. HALL, M. D. amount will be increased to nearly half a million Applications for the Admission of Patients may be should he have to carry the case to the Court of Ap-made to the Superintendent, or to any of the Board of Managers.