In a napkin smooth and white, Hidden from all mortal sight, My one talent lies to-night. Mine to hoard, or mine to use, Mine to keep, or mine to lose ; May I not do what I choose?

Ah! the gift was only lent, With the Giver's known intent That it should be wisely spent. And I know He will demand Every farthing at my hand, When I in His presence stand.

What will be my grief and shame
When I hear my humble name,
And cannot repay His claim!
Some will double what they hold;
Others add to it tenfold,
And pay back in shining gold.

Lord, Oh teach me what to do!
Make me faithful, make me true,
And the sacred trust renew.

Help me,
ere too late it be,
Something now to do for Thee-
Thou who hast done all for me!

THE LATE REV. J. M. CHARLTON, M.A. JOHN MOOR CHARLTON, the youngest child of his parents, was born at Kendal, on the 25th March, 1817. His youthful life abounded in many promises of his after career. To an early awakening of deep religious conviction he united a strong and never halting determination to become a minister, and we find him subsequently entering Highbury College with this view. There he was distinguished for his faithful attention to his studies, and the true spirit of devout feeling he ever displayed. Upon leaving college he became pastor of Totteridge Chapel, where for twelve years he laboured successfully. He then succeeded Dr. Raleigh in the pastorate of Masborough Chapel, Rotherham, but he did not remain there long. His growing

reputation pointed him out to the committee of the Western College, Plymouth, as a desirable occupant of the then vacant Presidential and Theological chair of that institution. With his advent a new era dawned for the Western College. He soon urged the erection of a building suited to the needs of the institution, and the result was the present edifice on the outskirts of the town of Plymouth.

The whole of his course at the Western College was marked by earnestness of purpose, and its interests were ever next his heart. To his students he was always a noble example and a true guide. To the various churches in Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset he was an honoured friend and counsellor. His life was emphatically one of labour, devotion,

and self-abnegation. His scholarship was great and in no degree superficialhis reading wide and varied. As a theologian he was thoughtful and comprehensive. In all human probability it appeared as if the next ten years would prove the most useful and brilliant of his life, but it was, alas! not to be so. In September last the first symptoms of his finess appeared. His disease, an internal tumour which prevented any nourishment entering the stomach, was at an early stage discovered to be of a hopeless nature, and for weeks he had to face thegradual approach of death, yet he murcarared not. After eight long weeks the conflict ended. On the night of Sunday, the 12th December, surrounded by his dear wife and children, he gently and almost imperceptibly passed from his coach of suffering to the glories of his heavenly home.

The interment took place on the Friday following at the Plymouth cemetery, the Rev. C. Wilson, M.A., of Plymouth, officiating. A large assembly, embracing members of all sects, testified to the general sorrow for the removal of one

widely esteemed and loved. On the following Sabbath the funeral sermon was preached in Sherwell Chapel, Plymouth, by the Rev. T. W. Aveling, D.B., an old friend and fellow student of the deceased, and special allusion to the sad event was made in other chapels both in Plymouth and throughout the neighbouring counties. So passed away from earth a gentle and manly spirit, an affectionate husband and tender father, a kind and careful teacher, a thoughtful and earnest minister, and above all a sincere and devoted Christian. A blank is left by his removal which is keenly felt by his family, students, and personal friends, and the denomination at large.

JOHN PEELE CLAPHAM, J.P. ANOTHER "faithful and wise servant," found "watching" when his Master

called him, has "entered into rest." On November the 19th, last year, Mr. John Peele Clapham, while writing in his library, peacefully stole "away to Jesus," in harmony with his often expressed wish. Interesting sketches of his life and labours in Christ's service were given in the Leeds Mercury, the English Independent, and other papers. A few particulars, not generally known, may be welcome to the large circle of friends who mourn their loss, and rejoice in his gain. As a child he early showed a desire for "youthful consecration." Meeting one day with the hymn, two lines of which read,

"A flower, when offered in the bud,

Is no vain sacrifice,"

he took the meaning literally, and kneeling in prayer, presented a rosebud as his gift to his Heavenly Father. That Father "had compassion on the orphan boy, early bereaved of his earthly parent, "kept" him by His grace from falling" into the snares of the world, spared him through a long life of eminent usefulness, and called him gently home when his work was done. The frail tabernacle was gradually taken down, amid the most perfect submission to the Divine will. The exercise of praise on earth was always his delight, and often he remarked, "O how we shall sing in heaven, when we are there!" On the Wednesday following

that day when the " exulting spirit' sprang to endless life, a number of sincere mourners, comforted by Jesus, gathered round a quiet grave at Burleyin-Wharfedale, which loving hands had decked with flowers and evergreens. The service in the chapel and at the grave being conducted by Mr. Clapham's sympathising friends, his pastor, the Rev. S. D. Hillman, of Ilkley, and the Rev. J. Woollard, of Burley.

"All, all is well, beneath the peaceful sod,
Near to the 'Salem' which he built for God,
Rests what alone could die, he is above!
Risen with Christ' to 'serve' in 'perfect love.""

E. C.

The Kingdom of the Heavens. By FRANCIS JOHN B. HOOPER, B.A. (London: Hodder and Stoughton.) The object of this closely-printed volume is to show that the "Kingdom of the Heavens" is not, as is commonly supposed, the Church, or the Christian dispensation, but the reign on earth of Christ and His people, "conditionally appointed to take place in the apostolic age." "The matter," says Mr. Hooper, "stood thus. For the establishment of a kingdom founded on man's free agency and moral choice, God's will and man's will must concur. 'When this gospel of the kingdom had been preached in all the world' (as we are told it had been in A.D. 62, see Col. i, 6) then it became conditionally the will of God that the end should come,' and 'they should see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory.' In order, however, to the carrying out of this will, it was necessary that the will of man should concur. And this was found wanting. Men did not, in sufficient numbers, believe the Gospel, and hence the advent did not take place," p. 423. These are views to which we cannot subscribe, but we have not space to discuss them. The volume, however, contains much interesting and valuable criticism on current interpretations of Scripture, and on this account, if not on others, merits the attention of the student.

The Victoria Nyanza a Field

for Missionary Enterprise. By EDWARD HUTCHINSON, F.R.G.S. (London: John Murray.)

The object of this volume is to show at once the duty and feasibility of organising a Church Missionary Mission for Central Africa, in response to

the invitation of King Mtesa. A sum of £5,000 has been unanimously offered in aid of such a mission, and Mr. Hutchinson ably urges the Church Missionary Society to undertake the task, supporting his views by extracts from distinguished travellers. The volume is dedicated to the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, and is illustrated by two admirable maps, the one tracing Lieutenant Cameron's route to Lake Tanganyika, and the other that of Captains Speke and Grant from Zanzibar to the Mediterranean.

The New Testament, with Notes

and Comments. Vol. I. By the REV. LYMAN ABBOTT. (London: Hodder and Stoughton.)

This work, as its preface intimates, bids fair to be instructive and suggestive to those who have the instruction of others in hand. It will be found very useful to Sunday-school teachers, and to those who conduct Bible classes.

The Deep Things of God. By

WILLIAM BATHGATE. (Glasgow:
J. Maclehose.)

Mr. Bathgate is known as a writer of considerable power. His "Christ and Man" evinced a high order of thought, and in the present volume it is fully sustained. Looking in the light of a broad intelligence at the great questions of Christian theology, he discusses those he handles here in the spirit of sound, earnest, philosophical inquiry. His book merits a wide circulation, and will be read with interest and profit.

Choice Readings for Every Day in the Year. By the Rev. T. DE WITT TALMAGE. (London: R. D. Dickinson and Co.)

We have in this volume some of Dr. Talmage's best thoughts selected from

T

BRIEFER NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Words of Love for the Little Ones (Hatchards), consists of a text of Scripture and a short simple hymn for every day in the year, together with a morning and evening metrical prayer prefixed to every month. Intelligent children under the guidance of a Christian mother will like the book. The selection and arrangement are by L. A. Morris.-Protestantism: its Ultimate Principle. By R. W. Dale, M.A., Birmingham. (London: Hodder and Stoughton.) A capital book, deserving to be extensively read. In substance it is a reproduction of a lecture delivered in Exeter Hall. A few things in it may be called in question. It were well if many Protestants had a clearer understanding of the boundaries, as well as the breadth of their principles. To such understanding Mr. Dale will prove a useful guide. The King in His Beauty; and other Hymns. By Florence C. Armstrong. (London: A. Richardson.) These pieces of verse are highly creditable to their writer. They are sweet and musical, and express in a graceful form important lessons and deep yearnings of the spirit for future and abiding rest.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. -The annual meeting was held in Exeter Hall on Wednesday, May 3rd, the Earl of Shaftesbury presiding. The report described the work of the colporteurs in France as encouraging, where the total circulation of Scriptures by this agency has been 95,000 copies. From the three German centres of operation, Cologne, Frankfort, and Berlin, the issue has been 393,000 volumes. In seventeen provinces of Austria, from the Lake of Constance to the Black Sea, and from the Baltic to the Adriatic, 138,000 volumes have been issued during the year. In North Russia the Society has depots at Moscow and St. Petersburg, besides one at the great fair at

Nijni Novgorod, and from which 223,000 copies have been distributed in fifty-eight different languages. In South Russia ground has been broken in Georgia; and the Gospels and Acts are being printed in Trans-Caucasian Turkish. In Spain 54,000 copies have been sold. In Turkey the work has been one of great difficulty. Total issues for the year, 2,600,000 copies; income £222,320, and the expenditure £212,251. The meeting was addressed by the Earl of Aberdeen, Dean Close, Rev. Dr. Thompson, of New York, Rev. Prebendary Wilson, M.A., J. W. Pease, Esq., M.P., the Rev. Dr. James, and Signor Turin, from Milan.

THE CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION SOCIETY. -The fifty-first annual meeting was held in Claremont Chapel, Pentonville, May 2nd, Henry Thompson, Esq., in the chair. The report was read by Rev. E. Schnadhorst, the secretary, and which stated that a large amount of useful work had been done in connection with the London churches, and by means of tent and open-air services and the circulation of religious tracts and books. The speakers were Revs. J. B. Heard, M.A., W. Tyler, G. M. Murphy, and Mr. Josias Alexander.

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.-Sermons were preached for this Society on Sunday, April 30th, by the Right Rev. Bishop Ryan, D.D., in St. Michael's Church, Pimlico, and on the Wednesday following by Rev. J. P. Chown, "in Bloomsbury Chapel. On Friday, May 5th, the public meeting in Exeter Hall was presided over by the Right Hon. W. E. Baxter, M.P. The secretary, Dr. Davis, being absent through illness (which has since terminated fatally), the Rev. Dr. Manning read the report, showing an income of £146,821 138. 8d., and expenditure of £145,303 5s. 6d. The total receipts for missionary funds were £22,013 8s. 10d., but the grants had amounted to £28,666 15s. 7d., the deficiency being supplied out of the trade profits. Speakers-Rev. R. C Billing, M.A., Bishop Anderson, Rev. Archibald Brown, Rev. Dr. Donald Fraser, and Rev. J. C. Harrison.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY. -The 71st anniversary was held May 8th, at the Training School, Stockwell Road. A public examination of the girls' school was held, after which Lord Granville presided at a public breakfast meeting, and on his retirement the chair was taken by W. E. Forster, Esq., M.P. The report read by Mr. Bourne specially referred to the general educa

SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.-The annual meeting was held in Exeter Hall, May 4th, Henry Lee, Esq., Manchester, in the chair. The report was read by Mr. Benham, and referred to the aid given to Continental Sunday-schools, to the examination of teachers and scholars in England, and to the numerous books the Union had issued from the press. There are in connection with the society 195 county unions, 101,137 teachers, and 906,442 scholars, 17,682 of whom had become connected with Christian

churches during the year. It is computed that in England there are 3,000,000 Sunday scholars, and 300,000 teachers. The Revs. Dr. McAuslane, M. McEwen, A. Mursell, T. Blake, M.P., addressed the crowded assembly.

LONDON CITY MISSION.-The fortyfirst anniversary meeting was held in Exeter Hall, May 4th. The Marquis of Cholmondeley presided. The report was read by the Rev. John Garwood, M.A. Income for the year, £47,047; expenditure, £46,807. The number of missionaries, 450; visits paid, 2,701,454. Twelve missionaries are devoted to visiting public-houses, several to cabmen, 1,000 of whom have become teetotallers. The society has lost its devoted Nonconformist secretary, the late Rev. John Robinson, to whom special reference was made. His successor is Rev. Josiah Miller, M.A. The meeting was addressed by the Earl of Shaftesbury, Revs. Dr. James, J. Cohen, M.A., John Graham, R. Roberts, and R. C. Billing, M.A.