the best interests of our Sunday-school work. There we should meet with fellow-workers in the cause, and encourage each other on in the good work in which we are engaged. I hope our friends here in the north will copy the example of our friends in the south, and that soon the first Methodist New Connexion Teachers' Conference will be held. Trusting that the subject will be taken up by abler hands, and the end accomplished,—I remain, yours truly, LAMBERT GRAY.

OUR JUVENILE MISSIONARY AGENCY, &c.

SALEM SUNDAY-SCHOOL, BELFAST, IRELAND.-The anniversary sermons on behalf of the schools connected with this chapel were preached on Sunday, the 19th October-in the morning by the Rev. Prof. Wallace, of the Presbyterian College, and in the evening by the Rev. T. Masterman, our esteemed minister. On both occasions special hymns were sung by the scholars. This, coupled with the popularity of the preachers, brought together very large and respectable congregations, especially in the evening, when the spacious edifice-capable of accommodating a thousand persons-was well-filled. It has been many years since so large collections were received, and the managers of the schools are, moreover, gratified with the very flattering remarks from members of other denominations, who state that we stand foremost in the character of school anniversaries. On the following Tuesday evening the annual soirée was held, which also proved a great success. For a short time after tea the children amused themselves with various games, and afterwards were entertained to a series of dissolving views exhibited by the Rev. T. Masterman. A very ample supply of excellent fruit and sweetmeats was then partaken of, after which the meeting was closed in the usual manner, terminating a festival the recollections of which will long be cherished both by teachers and scholars.-CHARLES MCDADE, Secretary.

PRESENTATION TO AN OLD SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER AT MOUNT GILEAD.-On Saturday, November 29th, a presentation was made to Mr. William Rogers, who for fifty-four years has been a member, and fiftytwo years the superintendent of the Sunday-school at Mount Gilead, Smithy Nook. The Methodist New Connexion has had a church and school in this neighbourhood for sixty years. The chapel, which is still a substantial building, was erected in the year 1818. On Saturday the members and friends met, to the number of 230, to do honour to their veteran friend. After tea the public meeting was held, the chair being taken by Mr. Thomas Ashworth. A letter was read from the Rev. T. W. Ridley, expressing regret at his inability to be present to do honour to his old friend, for whom he cherished very high esteem.-Mr. John Kershaw, who now takes Mr. Rogers' place in the school, was called upon to read the address and present the portrait. He said he had known him for thirty years; from a lad in the school he could remember his prayers, and was impressed with his kindness and goodness. And now for many years they had lived and laboured together, and his esteem for and confidence in his friend had continued to deepen and strengthen. The following was

As

the address which he read :-"We feel it our duty and privilege to address you on this occasion, and express the veneration and affection we cherish for you, and our grateful appreciation of the long and faithful services you have rendered to the church and school at Mount Gilead. For fifty-four years you have been a member of this church, forty years a class-leader, fifty-two years superintendent of the school, thirty-three years a trustee of the chapel, for twenty-six years you have sustained office either as treasurer or secretary to the chapel, society, or school. You have always been correct in your accounts, and faithful and punctual in the discharge of your duties. Your continuance in office for so many years will express the esteem in which you have been held, and the confidence reposed in you. Your life has been characterised by humility, fidelity, and an earnest purpose to serve God and the Church. You have been most useful in the visitation of the sick and dying, and, we doubt not, many will be the crown of your rejoicing in the day of God. member of the Methodist New Connexion, you have been strongly attached to its principles, doctrines, and ordinances. You have read its literature, supported its funds, and have ever manifested a deep and growing interest in its welfare. Accept the testimonial we now present to you, consisting of this address and portrait of yourself. Receive it as a token of our esteem and love. We pray that your life may be spared yet a little longer, that the evening of your days may be calm and bright, and that you may finish your course with joy, and have ministered unto you an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.-Signed on behalf of the members, teachers, and scholars at Mount Gilead: John Kershaw, Thomas Ashworth, James Cryer, Thos. Parker, and George Bolton, sec.—Nov. 29th, 1873." Mr. Rogers, who is now in his seventy-seventh year, rose amid prolonged cheers to accept and address the congregation. He said : I feel and must say that I do not deem myself worthy of all this comI did mendation; it is too much to say about a poor mortal like me. You had subscribed your money not want this address and portrait. before I knew anything about it, or I should have told you to keep it in your pockets, or to spend it on some worthy project in connection with the cause I love so much. I must say I am pleased with the portrait. I shall prize it, and so will my family, and for it I cannot I have been connected with this church and thank you sufficiently.

school for many years. The school is a place where a man may be useful-it is a field where a man may work in teaching others. What a blessed work is this. Next to the honour of preaching the Gospel is that of teaching in a Sabbath-school. Let us do all we can and success will attend us. Many of the members of the church, the three local preachers we have, and some who have gone forth to preach the Gospel in Canada and elsewhere, have been trained in our Sunday-school; and so have many who have left the neighbourhood, and many who have gone to heaven. I have much to be thankful for. I am the honoured recipient of many mercies. Accept my best thanks."-The Rev. J. Candelet, of Bury, who was stationed in this Circuit a few years ago, and the Rev. W. Woodward, the present minister, made some appropriate remarks, and the meeting was further addressed by Messrs. G. Midgley, J. Harston, and D. McIntyre. The choir added considerable interest on the occasion by singing a choice selection of sacred songs. Votes of thanks brought the meeting to a close.

BIBLE QUESTIONS AND PUZZLES.
BY UNCLE TEASER."

(For Conditions and Prizes see January Number.)

7. What nation hung chains of gold around the necks of their camels?

8. How many persons in the New Testament are we told had dreams about Christ?

9.-Who was called from threshing wheat to deliver Israel?

10. Arrange these letters so as to form a sentence of three words containing a Christian duty:-a, a, c, e, g, h, i, i, n, o, p, r, s, t, u,

w, y.

11.—

A fisherman of Galilee.

One of Daniel's companions.

Part of the high-priest's breast-plate.
One of the Evangelists.

The initials give the name of an eminent servant of Christ; the finals the place where he was put to death.

PUZZLES FOR CHILDREN.

(Answers to Questions in January Number.) 1.-Benoni-Benjamin. Genesis xxxv., 18. 2. He quoted Psalm xci., 11, 12.

3.-Proverbs iii., 5, 7, and xxviii., 26.

4.-Retaliation. Exodus xxi., xxiv., and Matt. v., 38, 39. 5.-Six. Exodus iii. and iv.

6.-Goliath-Obadiah-David-God.

UNCLE TEASER is pleased that so many of his young friends have tried to answer his questions. He has received replies from every Circuit in England except two. Many of them do great credit to their writers. Most have complied with the conditions, but not all —for instance, "A. Bebbington," "E. Brotherton," and "H. Perry' have not sent their addresses, and "6, Russell Street, Hanley," "1, Moore Street," and "Tepton, Jan. 6," have no names attached. Some of our young friends complain that it is the 10th or 12th of the month before they receive their Magazine, and that there is not time to reply by the 15th of each month. We cannot wait for answers longer than the 15th, but we can do this: we can extend the time a month. For example, the puzzles which "Uncie Teaser" gives this month will be answered in the APRIL number. Those which are given in the March number will be answered in the May number, and so on till the end of the year, which for the purpose of these puzzles will close on the 1st of December. Now, don't write to us to ask how 66 you stand." We have not time to reply to 200 letters, which is about the number received this month. A register will be kept of

the answers, just like the register of a school, in which the good or bad marks are put down, and each, as at the Judgment Day, will receive according to his or her works. Three persons have answered the last month's puzzles correctly, all the rest of the 200 more or less correctly, but only three have answered all the puzzles. They have a harder nut to crack this month, and we wish them all good luck, as witness our hand this 17th day of January, 1874.

UNCLE TEASER.

"CAN'T HELP IT!"

A LITTLE girl often followed after her father when he came into the house, with this question, "Father, what can I do for you?" and never was she happier than when he gave her something to do for him. Once he said, perhaps tired with her asking, "Child, why do you ask that question so often?" Oh, father," she answered, with two great tears swelling in her eyes, "because I can't help it!" It was love that put the question; and her readiness to undertake whatever he set her about was proof of the genuiness of that love; she wanted always to be doing something for her father. People sometimes are in doubt whether they love God or not. I will tell them how they can find out. Are you often asking your heavenly Father the same question this little child was asking her earthly father? Is it one of your first thoughts, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" And do you keep on asking because you cannot help it?

66

MARY'S TASK.

Just look at Oh dear! and She was a

"Now I never shall get done in this world! Never! all the books! and mother wants me to dust them. so many of them!" The speaker was little Mary Vine. girl of ten years old, quite big enough to be put to so simple a task as dusting the six shelves of books in the bookcase. "Well, why don't you go at it and do it?" said her cousin Sarah, who came into the room just then; "it won't take you any longer than it will me to mend the stockings." "But there's so many of them," said Mary. "I've counted, and there's one hundred and twenty-five." "Well, if you'd been dusting them instead of counting them you might have been half done by this time"; and Sarah passed on. Mary sat before the bookcase and complained to herself a little more. Then she took down two or three volumes; then she thought what a long time it would take, and what hard work it was; and so the task, which might have been done in one hour, occupied three. Do you think, if Mary goes on as she has begun, she is likely to make a very useful woman?

.

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"THAT'S ME!"

A HOTTENTOT in Southern Africa lived with a pious Dutchman in whose house family prayer was engaged in daily. One day he read (Luke xviii.), "Two men went up into the temple to pray." The poor black man, whose heart was already awakened, looked earnestly at the reader, and whispered, "Now I'll learn how to pray." The Dutchman read on: " God, I thank thee I am not as other men." "No, I am not; but I am worse," whispered the Hottentot. Again the Dutchman read: “ I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess." No; I don't do that. I don't pray in that manner. What shall I do?" said he. The good man read on until he came to the publican, who "would not lift so much as his eyes to heaven." "That's me!" cried his hearer. The farmer went on with the reading: "Stood afar off." "That's where I am," said the Hottentot. "But smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner." "That's me! that's my prayer!" cried the poor creature; and, smiting on his breast, he prayed, "God be merciful to me a sinner," until, like the poor publican, he went down to his house a saved and happy man.

WHO MADE ALL THAT?

WHEN Napoleon was returning to France from the expedition to Egypt a group of French officers one evening entered into a discussion concerning the existence of God. They were on the deck of the vessel that bore them over the Mediterranean Sea. Thoroughly imbued with the infidel and atheistical spirit of the times, they were unanimous in their denial of this truth. It was at length proposed to ask the opinion of Napoleon on the subject, who was standing alone, rapt in silent thought. On hearing the question, "Is there a God?" he raised his hand and, pointing to the starry firmament, simple responded, "Gentlemen, who made all that?"

GOD CARES FOR HIS OWN.

A JUDGE said tauntingly to a Christian woman condemned for her religion, and who had great faith in Providence, "I shall send you to prison, and then how shall you be fed?" Her reply was, "If it be my heavenly Father's will I shall be fed from your table." And so it was. The wife of the judge, hearing of this, was so struck with the woman's steadfastness and faith in God that she supplied her with all she needed during her imprisonment, and herself was brought to the Saviour. God cares for His children.