the Monday lasted from two o'clock till considerably after nine, with a short interval for tea, and we had to do much talking on various subjects pertaining to the progress of our schools in the station. It is deserving of notice that the Rev. George Bennett has manifested a very deep concern to promote various reforms in these schools. We have not met with a minister who has more advanced views of the religious training and church membership of young people. We are sure that his influence and that of his superintendent will be of unspeakable benefit to the whole station. A better man we believe for a District Sunday-school Committee Secretary than Mr. Bennett could not be found in any district. We hope the Connexion will not be slow to find out his admirable spirit and talents. DUNSTABLE. At the Conference in this station there was not a large attendance in the afternoon, but the meeting was a representative one. Several important subjects were earnestly discussed the management and discipline of our schools, the best methods of giving a lesson, the retention of the senior scholars, the advantages of the Connexional Sunday-school Union, &c. In the evening meeting we had evidently an appreciative audience, and a large proportion of those who attended were females. Owing to the character of the trade in this town and neighbourhood, a great number of the male population have to seek elsewhere for employment, and the sisters are left to struggle with their difficulties as best they can; and upon them our schools and congregations largely depend. There is here a social wrong to rectify, which would be far better deserving the consideration of philanthropists and statesmen than are many other things with which they occupy their time, Our cause is but feeble in this station, and though now on the revival we trust. does not seem to us to be equal to what it was when we attended a round of missionary meetings in the circuit many years ago. With the exception of Dunstable, the schools seem to have no Connexional attachments. Several that are in most need of our help stand aloof from the Union, and so render it impossible for us to assist them. LEIGHTON BUZZARD.—It was not practicable to hold an afternoon session here, but we had a good attendance in the evening; and there were present other Sunday-school workers than our own. We have several very lively interests in this station, and some very hearty Primitive Methodists. It was a new thing to us to hear a procession through the streets in the 'Salvation Army' style to attend a Sunday-school teachers' gathering. We said to our selves, 'Well done Primitives!' keep your places; by priority of possession the streets and market-places belong you; you are the proper street singers and street preachers, and don't surrender your rights to anybody. Our premises in Leighton Buzzard are tolerably commodious, but badly built, and in one of the worst streets of the town. When our friends built here they had the opportunity of coming to the front and occupying one of the best positions in the town. But they said, 'No; much good has been done on this dear old spot; the Lord has mightily made bare His arm here; some of the worst characters have been saved, and it will be wrong to leave such a place.' Some have lived to see what a fatal mistake they made. We have a capital interest at Tinslade close to Leighton, and there is blessed work going on in both the school and the congregation. One incident is deserving of record for the encouragement of Sunday-school workers. Several weeks ago one Sunday evening, a little before six o'clock, an ungodly father was putting on his coat, when one of his children, a girl who was a scholar in our Sundayschool asked him where he was going, and he replied, 'To get a pot of beer my lass.' Whereupon the child in pathetic tones said, 'Nay father, don't to-night, go with me to the chapel, do father, just to-night.' Overcome by the dear one's affectionate entreaty, under a sudden impulse he decided to go to the chapel. That night the meeting was full of the presence of God, and the word took effect in the father's heart and conscience. The man stayed for the prayer-meeting, and a friend soon came to him to request him to decide for Christ. He confessed his sins and sought forgiveness, and is now walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. Let teachers labour to impress children with the beauty and importance of religion, and it shall hasten the fulfilment of the prophecy, A little child shall lead them.' RUGBY.-Here at last we have got a position worth owning, and where some good is likely to be done. The building that bears our name is an elegant structure, and admirably adapted for our work. The only defect is not enough class-room for Sunday-school purposes; but that can some day be remedied. The chapel is well situated, and commands a good prospect. Our cause here is not strong yet; but it is growing. Our friend, Mr. Barron, had many difficulties to work in the face on entering the station; but already he has met with great encouragement, and is full of hope. We trust that both our afternoon and evening meetings will be followed with good results. LESSONS FOR SECOND QUARTER, 1882. MORNING SUBJECTS. FOR READING. Golden Texts for Repetition. April 2............ Solomon's Dedicatory Prayer ......1 Kings viii. 22-30 ......... Verse 27 May June Verse 1 Verse 7 Jehoshaphat's Prayer for Help ...2 Chron. xx. 1-13............ Verse 12 ..........................John xv. 5 ....Lam. iii. 22-41............... Verse 22 Verse 9 ........................... Verse 12 AFTERNOON (International) SUBJECTS. April 2........The Mission of the Twelve........Mark vi. 1-13 9............Death of John the Baptist.......... Mark vi. 14-29 ...................... Rev. ii. 10 16............The Five Thousand Fed .Mark vi. 30-44...............John vi. 35 30............The Tradition of Men ..................Mark vii. 1-16 21............ 28............. 4............ .Matt. viii. 27 May 7... Sufferers brought to Christ .........Mark vii. 24-37............... .Verse 37 14............A Miracle and its Lessons............Mark viii. 1-21............... Luke xii. 1 Seeing and Confessing the Christ.. Mark viii. 22-33 ..........Matt. xvi. 16 Following Christ........................ Mark viii. 34-38. ; ix. 1 ...Mark viii. 34 The Transfiguration..................... Mark ix. 2-13 ...............John i. 14 11............The Afflicted Child ...................Mark ix. 14-29............Verse 23 18............ The Child-like Believer............... Mark ix. 30-50...............Isaiah lvii. 15 25............ Review of the Quarter's Lessons. June Matt. xxvii. 54 COURTEOUSNESS IN TEACHERS. RELIGION teaches good manners. It is love, and love doth not be have itself unseemly.' It does not act out of its place or character, but observes due decorum, and good behaviour. It is not rude, bearish, or brutish; it is willing to become all things to all men that it may please them for their good to edification. Dr. Clarke says :— 'No ill-bred man, or what is termed rude or unmannerly, is a Christian. A man may have a natural bluntness, or be a clown, and yet there be nothing boarish or hoggish in his manner. I must a pologise for using such words; they best express the evil against which I wish both powerfully and successfully to declaim. I never wish to meet with those who affect to be called "blunt honest men," who feel themselves above all the forms of respect and civility, and care not how many they put to pain, or how many they displease. But let me not be misunderstood; I do not contend for ridiculous ceremonies and hollow compliments; there is surely a medium and a sensible Christian man will not be long at a loss to find it out.' This should be found out and acted upon by the Sunday-school teacher. Courteous manners is one of the essential qualifications for his work. He had better be without a good many other attainments than without this one. It is not so much what he knows and teaches; but rather what he is and how he acts that will take effect on the scholars. That they may be favourably impressed he must be amiable and attractive to them. Many in what are called the humble walks of life have a great deal of native refinement. They have capacities which, developed, would render them courteous and polite. The coming in contact with a single person of good manners, is often sufficient to awaken efforts in the right direction. The example and bearing of the teacher may thus have a great influence, especially with pupils whose advantages for social culture have been limited. If a teacher has a class of rough materials, he should take especial care to be courteous. It is a mistake to suppose, as we fear many do, that courteous and refined manners are not needed among the rude and uncultivated. Persons wishing to make themselves popular with their inferiors in culture, sometimes adopt their manners. Their conduct in doing so is regarded as condescension. None like to be the objects of condescension. The courtesy that springs from the heart will have power with the coarsest specimens of humanity. A superintendent had a rough class of boys brought into the school, and he appointed a teacher adapted to them, as he thought. The teacher was a man of sense and piety, but one of the most uncouth of mortals. He had no power over the class. It was necessary to make a change. A highly educated teacher was now assigned to the class, and a wonderful alteration for the better was soon seen in it. It is a common thing now for the teacher to come in contact with pupils of culture and refinement of manners. If he does not give them examples of the same he will suffer in their estimation. They may respect his goodness; but they cannot fail to see that in one respect, at least, they are his superiors. On the other hand, there may be those in his class who have had no advantages for social culture and for the formation of good manners. To such he should be a model. He may be the only one who will give them lessons and exert an influence upon them for the formation of good behaviour. It is thought that this is giving undue importance to the external. There is a very close connection between the external and the internal. Attention is required to the one for the sake of the other. Pious thoughts and feelings require to be appropriately expressed. A mode of expression which fails to make known our thoughts and feelings aright will be wrong. It is our duty to love our friends, and also our enemies. Then it is our duty at proper times to give appropriate expression to our love. If our conduct toward them is such as leaves them in doubt, whether we love them or not, we fail in our duty to them. It will not do to say, 'My feelings toward them are right, no matter what my manners toward them are.' Christianity is designed to make perfect men and women. Those who are coarse and vulgar cannot be considered as perfect. A part of their nature is not cultured. They have capacities which are not developed. A perfect man is one who has right desires and affections, and who gives these appropriate expression. Though religion is not a matter of rites and ceremonies, yet it has to do with esthetic culture, and refinement of manner. The example of Christ was one of gentleness and courtesy. It gives no countenance to rudeness and vulgarity. To have the mind in us that was in Him, in all our intercourse with men, we shall obey the injunction to be courteous.' At the same time let no 'fair show in the flesh' be made a substitute for inward religion. There may be the love of beauty where there is not the love of holiness. Politeness of conduct will not atone for the absence of love in the heart. No amount of social culture can remove the stains of sin, or recommend the sinner to God. No amount of labour bestowed upon the manners can remove the natural alienation of the heart from God. At the same time the love of beauty is in keeping with the love of holiness, and polished manners are a proper manifestation of the feelings which the love of Christ generates in the soul, and which are the true source of the noblest actions and the highest refinement of mankind. J. W. MORNING HOMILIES. April 16. A SONG OF DIVINE MERCY. Psalm cxxxvi. GOLDEN TEXT. Psalm cxxxvi. 1. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. THIS Psalm is a commemoration of the goodness of God, and it is probable that it was sung at the great festivals. Twenty-six times the words are repeated, 'for his mercy endureth for ever.' One part of the choir sang the former part of the verse, and the other part of the choir answered,—' for his mercy endureth for ever.' This was done in the public service of God. See 1 Chronicles xvi. 41. It was also done at the dedication of the Temple. 2 Chronicles vii. 3-6. It was also sung when the Lord scattered the foes of Israel in battle. 2 Chronicles xx. 21. This song is addressed to God; 1. As the Great Ruler of the Universe. He is spoken of as the God of gods, and Lord of lords. 2. O give thanks unto the God of gods. All rulers are subordinate to God. He rules by His infinite wisdom. His plans are infinite. The plans of an earthly ruler are limited by time and space, but God's plans reach over many ages, and embrace time and eternity. The dominions of an earthly ruler only embrace a small portion of the earth, but God's dominions extend over the vast universe. This song is addressed to God. II. As the Great Founder of the universe. The natural world is full of divine wonders. 5. To him that by wisdom made the heavens. The sun is a grand and wonderful object. The earth is dependent upon the sun. How often people say that the sun is over ninety-five millions of miles distant from the earth. But what knowledge have we of a distance so great? Yet we feel the heat and enjoy the light of the sun. Comparatively speaking America is near to us, yet what kind of a fire could be kindled in America to warm the soil of England? What waters roll between England and America, but if science be true there is more water between the earth and the sun than there is contained in the Atlantic ocean. Yet God has so fitted up the sky that the light and heat of the sun come flowing away for millions of miles to gladden the hearts of men. 9. The Moon and the Stars to rule by night. The moon is said to be very near to us, and scientists have measured the height of its rocks and mountains, and mapped its surface. Still the moon is said to be two hundred and thirty-seven thousands of miles distant from the earth. How beautifully it lights the arth by night with its reflected light. And then there are the stars. One star, Jupiter, has four |