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one minutes after two in the morning. She is nearest the earth on the 4th, and again on the last day of the month, and most distant from it on the 16th.

Mercury is an evening star, setting about half an hour after the sun. He is near the moon on the 24th, and stationary among the stars on the 28th.

Venus is a morning star, rising on the 8th at three hours and six minutes before sunrise. She is at her least distance from the sun on the 17th, and near the moon on the 20th.

Mars rises at three minutes after nine p.m. on the 7th. He is due South on the 1st at thirty-four minutes after five a.m. He is near the

moon on the 13th.

Jupiter rises on the 7th at one hour twenty-three minutes after sunset. He is due South on the 1st at two hours fifty-five minutes a.m., and near the moon on the 10th.

Saturn rises on the 7th at fiftyseven minutes after sunset. He is due South on the 1st at fifty-nine minutes after one a.m., and near the moon on the 9th.

High water at London Bridge on the 1st at forty minutes after six in the morning, and forty minutes after

seven in the evening. On the 31st at forty-two minutes after seven in the morning, and twenty minutes after eight in the evening.

NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.

4th. The first English Bible printed, 1535.

12th. Columbus discovered Ameica, 1492.

20th. Sir Christopher Wren born, 1632.

24th. Chaucer (poet) died, 1400.
26th. Hogarth died, 1764.
27th. Captain Cook born, 1728.

MUSIC IN NATURE.

How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank.

Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music

Creep in our ears; soft stillness and the night

Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Sit, Jessica; look, how the floor of heaven
Is thick inlaid with natives of bright
gold;

There's not the smallest orb, which thou behold'st,

But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims;
Such harmony is in immortal souls!
But while this muddy vesture of decay
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot bear it.
Shakespeare.

Mutual-Aid Association Reporter.

NOTE.

THE Ecumenical Methodist Conference, has been deemed of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the Times, which has spoken of it as "promising to be one of the most interesting and important religious gatherings ever held since the days of the Wesleys. The denominations number over 4,000,000 actual communicants, and a Methodist population of 18,000,000. The members of the Conference will number 400, onehalf of whom represent British and Continental Methodism, and one-half the churches of the United States and Canada. The Conference is composed of lay and clerical delegates equally,

and its main objects will be to devise means for prosecuting the home and foreign work so as to result in the greatest economy and efficiency; to promote fraternity; to increase the moral and evangelical power of a common Methodism, and to secure the more speedy conversion of the world."

GENERAL COMMITTEE. THE monthly meeting was held at the office of the Association, No. 24, Bedford Street, W.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 14th.

Present: The President, Treasurer, Honorary Secretaries, General Secretary, Amphlett, Turtle, Parker, Ward

ley, Wright, Clapham, Sunman, Durley, Harding, Salmon, and Atkinson. Bro. A. R. Johnson opened the meeting with prayer.

The minutes were read and signed as correct. Some questions arising therefrom caused considerable discussion and explanations, but no resolutions were come to, other than to let the alteration in Rule 12 (which had been made without due notice) remain as it is.

The monthly abstract showed receipts from Branches £161 17s.; payments to them, £172 6s. 1d. New members, 4; deaths, 4 and 1 wife; sick, 101; annuitants, 165. The balances in hand were £646 8s. 2d.; besides which, the Treasurer stated that he had now received the July dividends, after considerable difficulty, at the Bank of England. The total receipts from Branches since audit in May were £993 2s. 7d. ; and the payments to them £900 18s 9d., besides the working expenses.

An order was drawn on the Treasurer for General Secretary's salary, and postages, and for bills for printing Reports, stationery, &c., total £82

17s. 2d.

Brother Amphlett reported that the sum of £1 7s. 11d., for interest on deposit at Treasurer's bank, was entered in last year's account among the donations, legacies, &c.

The following applications were considered and determined on :

1. Bro. T. H., of M., aged 61; a local preacher 37 years; a widower; by trade a cabinet maker; not able to work through premature old age and extreme feebleness; but when able sells a little tea. He has been receiving from our funds 4s. weekly. Ordered. That this brother receive 6s. weekly in future.

2. Bro. T. H., of M. and S., aged 68; a local preacher 35 years; wife aged 67; is by trade a sawyer, but earning nothing, as he suffers from heart disease. Is now on our permanent sick list. Ordered, That the brother have an annuity of 5s. week.

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3. Bro. A. S., of M. N., aged 72; a local preacher 42 years; wife aged 73; has five children, all married and have families. One allows him 5s.

per quarter. He has been a weigher of coals at 12s. a week, and he now receives 3s. 6d. weekly from his local club. He is utterly unable to work from severe rheumatism. Ordered, That the brother receive 4s. a week at present.

4. Bro. J. D., of P., aged 60; a local preacher 23 years; is a bachelor, earning about 4s. 6d. weekly by mending boots and shoes. He receives two pounds yearly as Trinity money. His complaint is hip disease. Ordered, That this brother receive 3s. a week.

A letter was read from Bro. A. Andrew respecting a brother who is not yet a member; the consideration of which was deferred.

Bro. A. R. Johnson reported progress respecting correspondence concerning the £8,000 for local preachers from the Thanksgiving Fund.

The following were appointed a sub-Committee to prepare further suggestions to lay before the Committee appointed by Conference, and to submit the same to our next monthly meeting: The President, exPresident, Dr. Aldom, H. Wright, and the Honorary Secretaries.

A letter was read from Mr. W. B. Jameson, stating that his father, who had just made his long land and sea journey home from the other side of America, was too unwell to attend the meeting. The General Secretary was requested to write a letter of sympathy to Bro. Jameson, and to express our sincere hopes for his restoration.

Bro. Clapham was added to the deputation to Faversham.

Bro. A. R. Johnson was empowered to select a deputation, when needed, for a meeting at Prince of Wales' Road Chapel.

Bro. Amphlett reported that he had endeavoured to revive the Branch at Weymouth. Two brethren had given in their names as members.

Bro. Turtle reported that a new Branch was in course of formation at Dronfield.

Bro. Wardley invited the next meeting to be at our office on Monday, 10th Oct., at 5.30.

Bro. Salmon closed the meeting with prayer at 9 o'clock.

DEATHS.

August 1, 1881. Joseph Teasdale, Alston Branch, aged 56 years. He died calmly trusting in the Lord. Claim £6. August 3, 1881. Elizabeth White, Grantham Branch, aged 75. She died in peace. Claim £4.

August 16, 1881. John Holloway, York Branch, aged 89 years. He had

been an annuitant 140 weeks, and received £42. No particulars. Claim £2.

August 21, 1881. Thomas O. Johnson, Sunderland Branch, aged 79 years. Fully prepared, and calmly waiting for his end. Claim £2.

August 31, 1881. Ellen Marsden. Wibsey Branch, aged 40 years No particulars. Claim £3.

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

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Spitalfields-Mr. R. Facey, 2s 6d; Newcastle-under-Lyne

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Newbury-Mr. R. A. Taylor, qly. 3s; Mr. C. Webb, hc.

Benefit Members. £ s. d. 030 2 10 0

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Crewe York-Mr. T. Dickenson, hm. £1 1s; £1 1s; Mr. E. Sherwood, hm. £1 1s; £1 1s; Mr. Tasker, hc. 10s 6d Cardiff-Mr. R. Bird, hm. £1 1s; £1 Is Retford Mr. G. Grundy, hm. £1 1s Birmingham 2nd

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Southwark and Lambeth-Mrs. Keough, hm. £1 1s
Bristol-J. H., 2s 6d for the Old Men (per Bro. Maynard)
Wibsey-Mr. T. Barraclough, qly. 3s; Mr. T. Constantine,
qly. 3s; Mr. W. Sharp, qly. 3s

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Newport (Mon.)-E. H., 5s (per Bro. Milsom)
Office List-Mr. A. Ballard, hm. £1 1s; Rev. T. Nightin-
gale, hm. £1 1s

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Bayswater-Mr. H. Pratt, hm. £1 1s; Mr. J. Pratt, hm.

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THE REVISED VERSION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

No. II.

OUR first paper upon this subject was written in the first week of June. Since then we have met with abundance of criticism on the work of the Revisers, expressing diverse opinions, some of them altogether contrary to others. This is but what we expected; and what, in the nature of things, was inevitable. There is no subject upon which men were more certain to differ in their judgment, and the fact is no valid argument against the importance and value of the work itself. Our own views have been clearly expressed, and we see no ground for material change therein. We question whether the press of any nation ever issued a literary production -simply human, not divine-upon which so large an amount of attention has been fixed.

We are not surprised that so many prefer the Old Version to the New, and that a cordial and thorough approval of the Revised Version has been expressed by so few. The language of the Old is embalmed in the memory of millions, and interwoven with their whole habit of devotional thought. They are shocked, therefore, with the vast number of verbal changes made, and the many omissions and additions that distinguish the New from the Old Version. In the four Gospels and Acts, there are said to be no fewer than 14,601 variations from the Authorised Version, and in the whole volume as many as 36,191. We do not doubt the general accuracy of this statement, having ourselves counted 1,750 in the Gospel according to St. Matthew, without reckoning every individual word or the changes in punctuation. We know not what may have been the reasons for all these changes. No doubt they were such as satisfied the Revisers. We must confess, however, that some of them have not appeared to us as necessary, and some have perplexed us.

Many of our readers have bought and perused the volume; but have they all? We wish they had; but if any have not, we hope they will; especially those who either preach the word, or expect so to do. Meanwhile, we hope we shall not overtax their patience if we place before them such a number of changes as will induce them to give the subject a larger amount of thought than they have yet given or otherwise would give.

To begin with nouns; taking them in alphabetic order, we find "abundance" changed into superfluity; "alms" into righteousness; "body" into corpse; "bottles" into wineskins; "box" (of ointment)

into cruse, and flask; "bread" (aproc) into loaf; "candle" into lamp;

"candlestick," stand; "children," sons; "closet," inner-chamber; "clothes," garments (and in Matt. xxiv. 18, cloak); "clothing," raiment; "coasts," borders; "commandments," precepts; "compassion," mercy; "concupiscence," coveting; "countenance," appearance; "country," region; "damnation," judgment; "ditch," pit; "doctrine," teaching; NOVEMBER, 1881.

Χ

"eagles," vultures; "exchangers," bankers; " fame," report; "fellow," man; "fowls," birds of the air; "generation," offspring; "ghost," spirit; "gospel," good tidings; "graves," tombs; "greetings," salutations; "heathen," Gentiles; "heathen man," Gentile; "hell," Hades (the Greek word); "hem," border; "lunatic," epileptic; "maid," damsel; "Master" (applied to Christ), (didáσkaλos) Teacher; "meat," food; "minstrels," flute-players; "miracles," signs; "offences," occasions of stumbling; "palace" (of the high priest), court; "people,” multitudes; "pity," mercy; "princes," rulers; "sayings," words; "scrip," wallet; "sepulchres," tombs; "ship" (λotov), boat; "shore," beach; "sky," heaven; "sorrows," travail; "soul" (↓úxn), life; "spirit" (fancied by the disciples to be walking on the lake when they saw Christ), apparition; "temple," sanctuary; "testament," covenant; "thieves," robbers; "time," season; "tombs," sepulchres; "town," village; "uproar," tumult; "usury," interest; "victuals," food; "vinegar" (given to Christ when hanging upon the cross), wine (the Greek word varying in different MSS.); "watch," guard; "wedding," marriage-feast; "wilderness," desert place; "witness," testimony; "workman," labourer; "writing-table," tablet. What a list of changes in one Gospel only! Some of them, aye, many, unquestionably necessary and justifiable; but some of them unaccountably arbitrary.

nouns.

The same remarks apply to the changes made in verbs as to those in Many of them are changes in tense, some in number, and some in phraseology, a few in spelling only, but most of them in an equivalent, or nearly equivalent term. We find in the first Gospel, "abide" exchanged for tarry, “abased" for humbled; "assembled," were gathered; "betrayed," delivered up; "blamed," condemned; "break" (bottles), burst; "brought forth" (fruit), yielded; "caught," took hold of; "compel," constrain; "cometh," proceedeth; "consulted," took counsel together; "commanded," appointed (also charged); "charged," commanded; "condemned," judged; "catcheth," snatcheth; "curseth," speaketh evil of; "damned," condemned; "deceive," lead astray; "declare," explain; "demanded," inquired; " departed," was going on his way (chap. xxiv. 1. Also went out, and withdrew); "do well," do good; "inquire," search out; "entangle," ensnare; "espoused," betrothed; "fulfilled," accomplished; "furnished" (with guests), filled; "goeth," entereth; "grant," command grant," command "kept," observed (also fed, when related to swine); "laid hold," took hold; "lamented," mourned; "lead," guide; "loosed," released; "marvelled," were afraid; "mourned," wailed; "neglect" (to hear), refuse; "offend," cause to stumble; "omitted," left undone; "platted," plaited; "preach," proclaim; "prepare," make ready; "proceed," come forth; "purge," cleanse; reckoneth," maketh a reckoning; "revile," reproach; "reviled," railed on; "should be," had been (chap. xxiv. 22, would have been); "savourest," mindest ; "sit down," recline; "see," perceive; "shew," declare;

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