President Hayes, of America, as members of the Congress, great interest will be taken in the assembly. If the result should only be an increased real unity of reciprocal affection, the occasion will be of value. But some practical effects of the meeting will probably follow; for it is hardly likely that such a meeting of several hundreds of representatives from various parts of the world should assemble, and nothing practical result.

As we write, the State trials in Ireland are dragging their slow length along. When the end does come, it will probably be an acquittal. In the meantime some of the traversers, at the very time of being tried, are figuring in the House of Commons. However much the extreme steps of Mr. Parnell and the Land League may be condemned, there is no doubt great cause to demand that something should be done. The landlords have, no doubt, great cause now to complain of the combination which refuses to pay a stipulated rent; but it must not be forgotten that many of the Irish tenant farmers have been very unrighteously dealt with. The probability we hope is, that steps will be taken whereby skilled industry may have its reward secured, and oppressors be compelled to concede what is fair and equal. We know not at present what the Government measure is to be, but we have more faith in fair dealing between landlord and tenant than in any unnatural peasant proprietorship. We should hope some definite and easy plan of arbitration would go far to satisfy all the reasonable part of the Irish community.

NEXT to Irish matters, the most unhappy state of things is in South Africa. We trust there is hope for Basutoland in the appointment of Sir Hercules Robinson as Governor at the Cape. The quieting of the Basuto nation would no doubt tell very much upon the neighbouring tribes. The disturbances are no doubt due, very much, to the disarmament measure, the wisdom of which may be justly questioned, when a missionary of the tried character of Mr. Davis, who spent forty years in the country,

regards it as uncalled for. The Earl of Kimberley will no doubt do his utmost in giving the best possible advice. To a deputation that waited upon him not long since, his Lordship said: "I only wish that I had the power to give effect to my own feeling in this matter. I believe that South Africa wants rest above all things." The rebellion in the Transvaal belongs to the Imperial Government. The revolt of the Dutch Boers will probably be promptly met, and the leaders of the rebellion are hardly likely to escape punishment. From the natives generally the Boers will not meet with much sympathy, as their rule has been one of cruelty and oppression towards the aboriginal

races.

THE death of Dr. Jobson will be universally regretted. It was the Frederick J. Jobson, of between thirty and forty years ago, that produced so favourable an impression upon the writer's mind. The earnest pulpit and platform ability of Mr. Jobson at the time we speak of, was most striking and effective; and his powers of oratory were second to but very few. As an honorary member and tried friend of the Local Preachers' Association he will be missed. We are quite sure that the LOCAL PREACHERS' ASSOCIATION is worthy that some other name from among the superior class of the Wesleyan Methodist Ministry should fill up this vacancy. What young rising minister will say, "I will become to the Association what Dr. Jobson was?"

THE will of the late Sir Francis Lycett has been proved; and according to the Methodist Recorder, the benefit accruing to Methodism will be nearly £150,000-the greater part being left for chapel extension.

THE Executive of the Palestine Exploration Society are about to survey the East of Palestine, as they have already successfully done its Western parts. The Eastern parts of the country are covered with ruins, many of them in a wonderful state of preservation. There has been one period of destruction, and one only; and since then the land has been left

to the tribes who wander over it with their cattle, but who neither build nor destroy.

It seems incongruous, after so much effort by way of Wesleyan Methodist extension, that Mr. Crozier, from Southwark, and Mr. Foster, from Spitalfields, should each write of a population of 300,000 in the heart of London almost destitute of Wesleyan Methodism. Of course there are other spiritual agencies at work; but still there are tens of thousands of these teeming masses altogether negligent of eternal things. Various methods are suggested as to the manner in which this 600,000 people should be dealt with. One thing is certain, that it is the duty of the Church of Jesus Christ to present truth to the minds of the heathen at home. The plan of the Apostle Paul was, "publicly, and from house to house."

WE mentioned last month that friends of the Local Preachers' Association were to be congratulated on the value of their present investments. Professor Fawcett has, on the part of the Government, pledged to a smaller class of investors in Consols an interest of 6s. per annum for every £10 invested. This looks

Occur.

like a permanent £3 per cent. Under such circumstances we can hardly see how Consols should recede in value to any great extent, unless indeed something very unforseen should With Consols at par, or, in other words, worth about a £100, a considerable profit accrues to the Association. On looking through the figures as given in the report, the investments of the Local Preachers' Association are worth at present about £600 more than they actually cost. The benefit members of the Association ought to be well satisfied with such an investment.

Literature.

The Methodist Temperance Magazine for 1880.

WE have looked rather carefully through this volume, and see nothing

to condemn, but much to commend. This nice volume would form a capital present if given to a poor temperance worker. The volume is published by Elliot Stock, price 2s. But the next year's will be published at the Conference Office, City Road.

The Teacher's Storehouse and Treasury of Material for Working Sunday-school Teachers. Vol. V. 1880. London: Elliot Stock. Price 2s.

THIS is a storehouse, indeed, where the Sunday-school teacher may come and take what he wants, and come again, and still find fresh material by which he may be enabled to build up his class, and fit them for use by the great Master-builder Himself.

The Methodist Family, 1880. London Elliot Stock.

HERE is a helpful biography, a serial story in twelve chapters. The miscellaneous articles are numerous, and the poetry too. Suppose we give a verse from the last piece of poetry, entitled "Little Margie "

"By the gate stands lonely little Margie, Watching with dim eyes the little throng.

'She's too little for our picnic!' said the children,

'She's too little; she could never walk so long!

Just the kind of book to lay on the table, and to be taken up at odd times.

The Biblical Museum: A Collection of Notes, Explanatory, Homiletic, and Illustrative on the Holy Scriptures, especially designed for the use of Preachers, Bible Students, and Sunday-school Teachers. By JAMES COMPER GRAY. Vol. IX., containing the Books of Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Ezekiel. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row. Price 5s.

Ir is with feelings of real pleasure that we welcome this the ninth volume of the Biblical Museum. There does not appear to be the least falling off in the quality of the matter; the paper, the printing, the binding, are all good. We hope many of our rea

ders are in possession of these valuable volumes, and that those who are not, will get them as soon as possible.

Miscellaneous.

THE PRIMROSE.

"In lowly love within my heart

Doth live the primrose, pale and sweet." THE primrose is one of the early harbingers of spring. It is found growing on mossy banks and in lonely woods; it comes and nestles where other flowers disdain to bloom, and casts its modest glance on chance passers-by.

The primrose and the violet are twin sisters, and are rightly called Lowliness and Modesty.

Children hie to the woods in pleasant spring with joyful shout and merry laugh, and faces all aglow with gladness, in search of these beauties of Nature.

Poor London children! some of them have never seen a field flower growing.

The primrose is a universal favourite, and is welcomed and prized in hospitals and homes for sick children. The weary and worn can lie and look at their ideal flower, and recall past days when they could run free, and see them all growing and lovely as wonderful Nature has made them.

The matron of one of the "Homes" asked the children which they would like best, a pretty new toy or a bunch of primroses. Not one chose a toy; all asked for flowers. So she, wanting to find out the reason, pressed the children to tell her. One tiny girl said, "Any old man can make toys, but it is only God can make lovely flowers, and little children like His works."

commending true religion by their instruction and example to servants?

I heard of a master, having returned from a church-meeting where a servant, amongst others, had been proposed, when his household assembled for devotion, kindly addressing the servant, observing how much he would have rejoiced had her name been mentioned, presenting to her "The Anxious Inquirer," and praying affectionately for her in the family. She read, and thought, and prayed as directed; was encouraged to visit her minister; and became, it is hoped, a humble Christian. She was young, and an orphan; but she now found a Father and Protector in God. When visited as a candidate, she said the friendly appeal of her master, with the consistent example and Christian solicitude of the family for her, had been the means of forming her character.

A family, known to me, settling in a neglected village, on receiving into it a quiet country girl, employed their efforts much as in the former case for her instruction and conversion, and with the like success. She is now a member of the church. The eldest of seven or eight children, her influence is wonderful with her relatives, and exerted with simple earnestness for their good. How amply the family employing her is repaid! How well worth while to every Christian family, by thus doing their duty, to have the benefit of the respect, the devotedness, the principle, shown by this grateful domestic!

On visiting a gentleman one evening, and remarking to him the apparent happiness and intelligence of the servant-man who waited, he said, "When I first engaged that man as groom, he was so truly clownish as to appear almost without intellect. I conversed with him, instructed him, ́ brought him under religious training, encouraged the study of his Bible. His mind suddenly started into activity, as it were, for the first time. He was, indeed, a new man; became thoughtful, began to love our family worship, and to pray for himself. He is truly devoted to his employers, is now a confidential servant, and useful member of the church." The truth

of this was delightfully proved afterwards on attending the social prayermeeting, and hearing his humble, scriptural, fervent supplications; and his zeal, I am told, is remarkable in winning others to the way of holiness.

O how much have we yet to learn of our duty and interest on this subject! This is beginning at home; and who shall say how much it depends on servants what children are; or how truly the piety of a servant forms a fountain of blessings not only to a family, but, through it, to generations to follow? But such thoughts are worthy of the power and pathos of your own pen. May the voices of servants, dear sir, join in the multitude who shall bless God for you in time and eternity!

A NEW PLANETARIUM.

Z.

THIS invention is the work of an Italian, Signor N. Perini, long resident in London. The new Planetarium is erected in an ordinary sized room, with a ceiling higher than usual. On entering the room one sees a high circular chamber, or box, standing on 12 wooden pillars. On entering underneath this chamber, and looking up, a dome is seen, deep blue, and sprinkled with stars, the chief northern constellations being in their proper places, and round the base of the dome the names of the signs of the Zodiac. Pendant from the top of the dome, by a narrow tube, is an opal globe, lit inside by gas, and representing the sun. From wires, almost invisible, the planets are suspended around the sun, of sizes and at distances approximately proportionate to the real sizes and distances, and each having its proper inclination to the plane of its orbit. The various moons are in their places, and Saturn has his rings. The general effect, on looking up at this arrangement from below, is impressive; and this effect is increased when Signor Perini, by simply turning a key sets the system in motion, rapid or slow, as he chooses. The sun turns on his axis, and the planets in their orbits, all in time accurately proportionate, and on watching the movements for a short

time, one easily realises the immense differences in length of the years of the earth and those of the outer planets. By an ingenious watchwork arrangement inside the earth, which is the size of a walnut, our world is made to revolve on its axis; the latter by a special effort of ingenuity of Signor Perini's, being always made to point to the same quarter of the heavens. Perhaps the great triumph of this invention is the fact that the planets revolve round the sun in proper elliptical orbits, which are traced around the inside of the dome. The dome is 14 feet in diameter at its base, and 14 feet high. The moving power is clockwork. Not a sound is heard when the machinery is in motion; the whole working in that "solemn silence' which the hymn tells us is characteristic of the starry sky. Perini has devoted his nights and mornings to this structure for seven years, and has expended upon it something like £700; the earth itself, we believe, has cost him £40. We believe he has been prompted to this solely from the enthusiasm of a mechanician, and by a desire to do something to enable those. interested in astronomy to realise, as far as possible, the arrangements of the solar system. It is almost impossible to put it out of order, and it can be taken to pieces in a very short time.-Times.

Like to the damask rose you see,
Or like the blossom on the tree,
Or like the dainty flower of May,
Or like the morning of the day,
Or like the sun, or like the shade,
Or like the gourd, which Jonas had,
Ev'n so is MAN, whose thread is spun,
Drawn out, and cut, and so is done.
The rose decays, the blossom blasteth,
The flower fades, the morning hasteth,
The sun declines, the shadow flies,
The gourd consumes, and MAN he dies.

Phenomena of the Month.

FEBRUARY.

THE sun rises on the 1st at forty-one minutes after seven, and sets at fortyseven minutes after four. On the

28th the sun rises at fifty minutes after six, and sets at thirty-six minutes after five. Hence the day lengthens fifty-one minutes in the morning, and forty-nine minutes in the evening. The day lengthens one hour and forty minutes this month.

New moon thirty-two minutes after eleven on the morning of the 28th. Full moon on the 14th, twenty-four minutes after six in the morning.

The moon is near Venus on the 1st and 2nd, being situated to the right of the planet on the former, and to the left on the latter evening. She is near Jupiter during the evening hours of the 3rd. On the same evening Saturn will be situated some distance to the left of the moon and of Jupiter. On the evening of the 4th the moon will be to the left of both Saturn and Jupiter, but nearer to the former than the latter; and near Mars on the morning of the 26th. She is nearest the earth on the 26th, and most distant from it on the 10th.

Mercury is an evening star setting

on the 5th at thirty-eight minutes after sunset, and on the 25th one hour forty-eight minutes after the sun.

Venus is an evening star, setting on the 10th four hours thirty-four minutes after sunset.

Mars is a morning star, rising on the 10th one hour and seventeen minutes before sunrise.

Jupiter is an evening star, setting on the 1st at thirty-nine minutes after ten p.m., and on the last day at forty-three minutes after two p.m.

Saturn sets on the 1st at twenty-one minutes after eleven p.m., and on the last day at five minutes after three p.m.

On the 1st of this month George Cruikshank died in 1878; on the 9th Bishop Hooper was burnt, 1555; Martin Luther died 18th, 1546; Thomas Binney died 23rd, 1874.

High water at London Bridge on the 1st twenty-five minutes after three, and on the last day at thirtyfive minutes after one.

Father, how wide Thy glory shines!
How high Thy wonders rise!
Known through the earth by thousand
signs,

By thousands through the skies.
Those mighty orbs proclaim Thy power,
Their motions speak Thy skill;
And on the wings of every hour
We read Thy patience still.

PRESIDENT'S LETTER.-No 8.

Aylesbury, Jan. 13.

MY DEAR BRO. ŠIMS,-I am very glad to be able to send you at this cold season of the year such a warm and cheerful list of kind friends who, out of the many demands at this time of the year, have not forgotten our beloved Association, or the claims of sick, suffering local preachers. have had a large amount of thanks presented to myself for having brought the claims of our old men before them. I have still about fifty Branches I should like to wake up,

I