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mark. I don't think too much has been said about the selling of the drink, but enough has not been said about the buying of it-about the drinking itself, the taking and the giving-in our daily, social business, or dietetic life-in fact, the drinking usages. I don't think we say enough about moderation. In former times we exposed and denounced the kind of drinking which passes under that name. We used to say moderation was the parent of intemperance. Now we spend our strength denouncing the traffic. But moderate drinking is the great support of the traffic. It is not drunkards only and such like that keep open the public-house, and drink and cause to flow the oceans of liquor that figure in our statistics. It is paterfamilias, and materfamilias, and doctorfamilias, and pastorfamilias, who keep up the moderate drinking, that form the best customers, the largest consumers, the best friends of the distiller, the brewer, the publican. It is in the course of this moderate drinking that appetites are formed and deepened that fasten like serpent fangs. Moderate drinking is the apprenticeship to intemperance. The so-called tipplers and drunkards are only the journeymen of the business. They have finished their training, and it only remains in due time to finish themselves. When the pot boils over and scalds somebody, there is a cry got up. But it never boils over without first boiling. Moderate drinking heats up the appetite, blows the coals; and snow-water itself will boil at last with fire enough. We must not weary in well-doing, or be diverted from first principles and personal duties. We must beware of allowing a red herring to be trailed across our path. It would be very clever of the devil to get us to spend our fury on the publican, and to think ourselves very ill-used because he won't stop selling to us so long as we buy. Society must blame itself as well as the publican. The Church must blame itself as well as the traffic. We must, if we are drinkers, blame ourselves as art and part abettors of the public-house.—Rev. G. C. Hutton.

Poetry.

THE CHILD'S MAY-DAY SONG.
THE flowers are blooming everywhere
On every hill and dell,
And oh! how beautiful they are,
How sweetly too they smell!
The little birds they dance along,
And look so glad and gay:

I love to hear their pleasant song,
I feel as glad as they.

The young lambs bleat and frisk about;
The bees hum round their hive;
The butterflies are coming out;
'Tis good to be alive.

The trees that looked so stiff and gray,
With green leaves now are hung;
O mother! let me laugh and play,
I cannot hold my tongue.

See yonder bird spreads out his wings,
And mounts the clear blue skies;
And hark how merrily he sings,

As far away he flies.

Go forth, my child, and laugh and play
And let thy cheerful voice,
With birds and brooks, and merry May,
Cry out, Rejoice! Rejoice!

I would not check thy bounding mirth,
My happy little boy,

For He who made this blooming earth
Smiles on an infant's joy.

Phenomena of the Months.

MAY.

THE sun rises on the 1st at thirtyfour minutes after four, and sets at twenty-one minutes after seven. The sun rises on the 31st at fifty-two minutes after three, and sets at three minutes after eight, thus lengthening the day in the morning forty-two minutes, and in the evening fortytwo minutes, or one hour and twentyfour minutes in the month.

The moon is full on the 13th at twenty-four minutes after ten at night, and new at thirty-six minutes after eleven at night on the 27th. Nearest to the earth on the 16th, and most distant from it on the 4th.

Mercury rises on the 1st twentytwo minutes before sunrise, on the 18th the planet and the sun rise together, and from this day to July 20th, Mercury rises in daylight. He is at his least distance from the sun

on the 20th, and near the moon on the 29th.

Venus sets on the 1st forty-one minutes after sunset, on the 5th she sets with the sun, and from this day to the end of the year she sets in daylight. She rises on the 31st one hour twenty minutes before sunrise. She is near the moon on the 25th.

Mars is a morning star, rising at fourteen minutes after three in the morning on the 1st, and fifty-three minutes after one on the last day. He is near the moon on the 23rd, and at his least distance from the sun on the 26th.

Jupiter is a morning star, rising on the 1st eight minutes before sunrise, and on the last day one hour ten minutes before sunrise. He is near Mercury on the 7th, and near the moon on the 25th at about midnight.

Saturn is a morning star, rising on the 1st three minutes before sunrise, and on the last day one hour eleven

minutes before sunrise. He is near Mercury on the 6th, and near the moon on the 25th.

High water at London Bridge on the 1st at thirty minutes after three in the morning, and forty-seven minutes after three in the afternoon. On the last day fifty minutes after three in the morning, and seven minutes after four in the afternoon.

Religious Tract Society instituted on the 9th, 1799. Birth of Queen Victoria 24th, 1819. Earl Russell died 28th, 1879. Dr. Chalmers died 31st, 1847.

NATURE.

To study God, God's student, man, was made,

To read Him as in Nature's text conveyed;

Not as in heaven, but as He did descend To earth, His easier Book, where to suspend

And save His miracles, each little flower, And lesser fly, shows His familiar power. Sir W. Davenant.

Mutual-Aid Association Reporter.

PRESIDENT'S LETTER.-No 11.
Aylesbury, April 15.

MY DEAR BRO. SIMS,-Since my last, Bro. E. Benson and your President have attended public meetings on behalf of our Association, and laid the claims of our Poor Old Men before the good Methodist folks at Stewkley, Leighton Buzzard, Cheddington, Waddesdon, Sutton Mill, Cross Hills, Cleckheaton, Huddersfield, and Leicester. At all these meetings we have had good work done, although there is still a great deal to do. One would like to have stayed three or four days to have put things straight. Some of our local secretaries seem to want as much information about our Association as the outside public; but time, patience, and confidence in our good work will overcome all opposition. Being so much away from home this month I have not a very long list, but still it is much to be thankful for. May the Great Head of the Church reward these donors.

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101, LONG ACRE, W.C. April 2, 1881. DEAR MR. EDITOR,-I must express regret that my good Brother Amphlett has made such an allusion to the noble offer of our Treasurer respecting the augmentation of Mr. Wild's gift; because it appears to cast cold water on the effort now inaugurated. Of course, I support with all my heart his endeavour to enlist as many benefactors, and to as great an extent as possible, to our general fund. This ought we to do, but we ought also not to leave the other undone. I should be sorry if one penny that would otherwise go into our general fund should be diverted by our Treasurer's effort; but there is no fear of that. This is a special and extra effort for a special and extra cause.

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Mr. Amphlett deprecates separate unds. So do we all. But this effort is not to establish a separate fund, but to augment a fund long established, which is now confessedly inadequate to perform what originally intended, and which our growth has rendered thus incompetent. Surely it is desirable that our poor dear old fathers in the faith should be placed on an equality in the matter of this Christmas gift. Some of our new annuitants are as needy as the old ones, and an additional half-sovereign at that season of the year would be as heartily appreciated by those who are now perforce non-recipients, as by those who do participate.

Mr. Amphlett fears, too, that even this effort will not be sufficient for the future. Probably not. I hope it will not. But it will be sufficient for the present. And when our Association has grown to yet larger proportions,

and a commensurately larger number of annuitants are on its funds, then, with a yet larger constituency to appeal to, another appeal for augmentation can and ought to be made.

On the same page on which the letter I have referred to appears, is the notice of the motion I intend to make (D.V.) at Sheffield, and to which Mr. Amphlett also alludes; which motion, I respectfully trust, will commend itself to the judgment and support of the brethren. It is, therefore, not likely I would do or say anything to prejudice its adoption. But I do not believe this effort of our Treasurer's will in the least do so; and I would, therefore, urge upon our friends the cordial support of the appeal, pages 97 and 98 in our April number, in reference to this matter. But as precept is worth little unless it is practically carried out, I shall have great pleasure in promising twenty guineas to the fund. I remain,

Yours very truly,

A. RUSSELL JOHNSON.

AYLESBURY BRANCH.

MY DEAR BRO. SIMS,-The President's perseverance is becoming quite proverbial. From Newcastle in the north to Penzance in the south, and many a place between, his energy is felt. Nor is this part of the kingdom neglected. With good Bro. Benson, the " Hittite," hitting away at prejudice against the brethren, and Madder, the "Hivite," hiving the honey called money, our Association is being helped on with an earnestness beyond all praise. With my goodfor-little self to form a tria juncta in uno band, the above-named brethren, with the cheerful acquiescence and willing aid of the Ministers, have visited, with very satisfactory results, the Leighton Buzzard and the Aylesbury Circuits. At half-a-dozen places in the former, and at Waddesdon in the latter, where the ladies crowned the meeting with given trays for tea, to swell the total sum, pleasing results have obtained. Thame Circuit is not to be forgotten. We hope the May Magazine, in its financial fea

tures, will show the good looks of the above Branches.

Yours in the best of bonds,
JOHN ROSE.

GENERAL COMMITTEE. MINUTES of Meeting of Committee, held at our office, 24, Bedford Street, on Wednesday evening, April 13. Present: Bro. C. S. Madder (President) in the chair. Bros. Amphlett, Andrew, Cropper, Durley, Johnson, Milsom, Parker, Sims, Wardley and Wright.

The meeting was opened with prayer by Bro. Andrew.

The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

A letter was read from Bro. Stephens, calling in question the resolution of the Committee respecting an application for superannuation. It was decided that a reply be sent to Bro. Stephens, respectfully informing him that the Committee could only decide on the facts placed before them; but if fresh information could be given, they would be quite willing to reconsider the case.

A communication had also been received from the Keighley friends, as to the reported resignation of Bro. Laycock as a member of Committee, he not having resigned. Resolved, That the cause of error be investigated and reported on at the next meeting.

The monthly abstract was read, showing receipts for the month, £232 2s. 8d. ; payments for the month, £351 10s., and bills, £44 11s. 9d. Receipts for the year, £2,878 83. 7d.; payments for the year, £2,619 2s. 11d., leaving a balance of £258 15s. 8d.

New members for the month, 9; deaths, 5; on the funds, sick, 114; annuitants, 164.

Bill for 3 months' rent of office, £8 15s., was presented and ordered to be paid.

Expenses had also been incurred, not only in removing, but also in the purchase of crockery and other articles, all of which had been defrayed by Bro. Wardley, who generously declined to be recouped. Resolved, That the best thanks of the Committee be presented to Bro. Wardley for his kindness and generosity.

CASES FROM BRANCHES.

C. J., of O., aged 60, local preacher 38 years. Wife dead; has four children who cannot help. Was a ganger on the railway, but lost his right leg in September, 1879. He made application last July for superannuation, but the application was then postponed to see whether the railway company would assist. This now appeared hopeless; but further information was desired on one or two points. The case, therefore, was ordered to be postponed until that information had been obtained, and a new schedule filled up.

J.J., of G., aged 69, local preacher 49 years; wife aged 49; has four children, but none can help; by trade a shoemaker; average income about three shillings per week, in addition to £10 per annum from a charity; suffers from bronchitis and asthma. Recommended by the Superintendent Minister of the Circuit. Resolved, That the Brother have 3s. per week.

The President being compelled to leave, Bro. Durley took the

chair.

W. F., of H., aged 65, local preacher 15 years; wife aged 65; has three children, who cannot help him; a shoemaker by trade; suffers from a bad cough, failing eyesight, and affection of the back, through constant bending of the body; has a precarious income of two or three shillings per week; is not a member but desires to become one, and an annuitant. solved, That it be made a special case, in consideration of what H. Briggs, Esq., is giving, and that he be at once received as an annuitant, and have five shillings per week.

Re

G. A., of D., aged 73, local preacher 50 years; wife dead; has six children, but none can help him; a shoemaker by trade, earning two shillings per week; suffers from failing eyesight and deafness. Resolved, That he have 5s. per week.

A promissory note for £16 14s. 6d., with interest due on it, was presented to the Committee from Joshua Ray, of Faversham. Not available at present, but may be of value in the future. Resolved, That it be thankfully accepted.

Bro. Parker asked for surplus

magazines to be sent to meetings where our cause is advocated. Resolved, That such permission be given, leaving the distribution to the discretion of the Secretary and Bro. Parker.

Resolved, That new schedules be printed at once for annuitants, with spaces for Branch, Name, and Address of applicant, and also the insertion of the question, "In case of application being granted, and your circumstances should subsequently improve, will undertake to inform you the Committee of such increase of means?"

The next meeting to be held on Monday, May 9, at Bro. T. M. Harvey's, Audley House, New Barnet, at 5.30p O p.m.

The meeting closed with prayer by Bro. Wardley.

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many years in the Gateshead Circuit. Claim £8.

March 6, 1881. George Pickford, Northampton ist Branch, aged 60 years. His end was peace. Claim £8.

March 15, 1881. Robert Brown, North Shields Branch, aged 47 years. He passed through a long and painful affliction with patience, and his death was triumphant. Claim £8.

March 15, 1881. William Large. Manchester Branch, aged 80 years, As he had lived, so he died, "trusting in the Lord." He had been an annuitant 616 weeks, and had received £133 118. Claim £2.

March 19, 1881. George Rose, Leeds Branch, aged 70 years. He was a good man, a true and faithful preacher, who had no need to be ashamed; always willing to work. After a long affliction he entered into rest. Claim £3.

April 11, 1881. William Hamm, Tavistock Branch, aged 61 years. He passed away and left a clear and delightful testimony behind of his acceptance through faith in Jesus. Claim £8.

ERRATUM.- In the list of deaths, February number; for Mrs. Bott, read Mrs. Barratt.

CASH RECEIVED BY THE GENERAL TREASURER TO APRIL 15TH, 1881.

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Bath-Mrs. Plummer, hm. £1 1s (in memory of her late husband)

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St. Agnes-Service of Song, £1 10s

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Isle of Wight-Mr. G. W. H. Warder, hm. £1 1s
Oldham-Mr Leach, hm. £1 1s; Mrs. Ward (don.) 10s 6d;
Collection at Wesley, £6 8s 6d; Ditto Manchester Street,
£8 10s 8d; Ditto Brunswick, £5 15s 2d; Less Expenses,
£3 16s 2d ..

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Houghton-le-Spring—Mr. Banks, 5s; Mr. W. Hill,

scriptions.

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Richardson, 2s; Small sums, 2s; Mr. J. Cook, hm. £1;
Mr. S. Gibbon, hc. 10s; Anon, 4s

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