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CHRISTIANS AND SOCIAL PURITY.

Young men of real grit, of strong brain, and loving heart, and severely pure character, I say with all my heart attempt the pastorate. Do not be afraid of the risks. Expect to endure hardness. You want to be strong, sinewy men, and in your strength to serve humanity in its most enduring interests; then enter into the fellowship of suffering with Him who for our sakes became poor so that He might make many rich. I admit it is acutely painful to bear this suffering when it arises, not from the real inability of our churches, but from their thoughtlessness, their want of sympathy, their extravagant expenditure upon personal luxuries, their lack of a due sense of responsibility for the efficiency of the church, or any other cause involving blame; but I am unwilling to believe that this is the case to any large extent, and that in most cases where our pastors suffer needlessly, it arises from want of a little vivid reflection concerning their just claims; and a forgetfulness of the Apostolic teaching, "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all GOOD THINGS.

JOHN CLIFFORD.

Christians and Social Purity.

BY THE RIGHT HON. J. STANSFELD, M.P.

AT a crowded Conference of Repealers held in London, on December 14th, 1882, Mr. Stansfeld said :

"What is your duty? Mine is clear. My duty is in the House of Commons, I cannot do more; I would do more if I could. But in the House, I will act. I will do what I can for this cause, and I will do nothing that in my opinion may do the reverse of serving the cause. But I and my friends will be powerless within the House unless we have support from outside. I know the calculations of our enemies: they think this four years' inquiry (Sessions 1879 to 1882 inclusive), during which outside action was impossible, has wearied you. There is no test of conviction perhaps so severe as the test of utter weariness; and they have thought and believed, and at this moment they boast that the agitation is dying out-coming to an end. You may read it between the lines in that part of the Report of the Select Committee which refers to the extension of the Contagious Diseases Acts in the future. Believing the movement for Repeal is dying out, some of the Members of that Committee would seem to have said to themselves "the time to give a man a crushing blow is when he is about to fall," and they have dealt you through the Report of the Majority a crushing, an outrageous, an insolent blow; dealt in the face of the moral and religious community of this land. It is not for me to read lessons to that community, but what I will say is this; that the whole future of this question in our time depends on your attitude-no, your ACTION. If you are content to sit down under this blow, this insult, this cynical, open, sneering disregard of all the convictions of moral and religious men and women, then I say to you that you will deserve the defeat and the shame which will await you, and that this question will drop from your nerveless and feeble grasp, to be taken up by some future generation of better and stronger women and better and stronger men.

A CHRISTIAN MAN OF BUSINESS.

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When I first entered upon this cause I appealed to the ministers of all denominations, and I got encouraging responses from them. It remains now, as it was then, my conviction that upon them and the religious bodies they represent it will mainly depend whether we win or lose in our time. They are, if they choose to be, a compelling power within the party to which they belong. They have been the salt of that party; they have done more than any other section of the community for its triumphs in the past and its character in the future; they have declared these laws to be wickedness and sin, and have demanded their Repeal ; and the Report of the Select Committee is the answer which they get from one member at least of the Liberal Government of the day. It is for Ministers of Religion to make good their words, and to be true to their convictions. The great bulk of the earnest religious community, those free, like the dissenting religious communities, to speak, have declared these laws, passed in silence, in darkness and in shame, to be immoral, irreligious and degrading laws; then I say they have no right to content themselves with mere conventional protests. It is their duty, if they are men as well as Christians, to descend into the political arena and to force their convictions at the polling booth, and in the constituencies. Those are my views. I have told you my notions of my duty and what I shall do. I now leave you to speak.'

A Christian Man of Business.

HON. WM. E. DODGE.

PRE-EMINENT in business, in temperance, in benevolence and in every good work, few will leave so large a place vacant and be so sincerely missed as will he. He was the foremost layman in America; perhaps the world. All New York has known, honoured and loved him for the last half century. His history of his life is the history of our city for the past sixty-five years. His life is an inspiration to all that is noble. It is a striking illustration of what a boy may become who makes religion first and business second.

Born seventy-eight years ago near Hartford, Conn.; after but little schooling he began his life in New York city as an errand boy at the age of thirteen in a large dry-good house. His advance was rapid. In eight years he joined with a friend in establishing a new house. Soon after, he married the daughter of Mr. Phelps, and three years after was taken into the firm so long known as Phelps, Dodge & Co. From that small beginning he came to be the head of the largest metal-importing house in the country. He was also a great railroad man-president and director of several roads. He always resigned his position and sold his stock in any company as soon as it began running trains on Sunday. He did a large business also in lumbering, banking, insurance, and real estate.

He was a rich man. His fortune is estimated at 5,000,000 dollars. But his fame was not for his riches, but for the consecrated way he used his wealth. For many years he gave away 100,000 dollars annually. In the past few years his gifts averaged 1,000 dollars per day through the year. He gave much about which the world will never know. He was a thorough business man-energetic, active and prudent, but was better known as a philanthropist than as a merchant prince. He was one of the most active temperance workers in New York city. He was a practical missionary from a boy, distributed Bibles with his own hands in homes where there were none. Several churches were largely aided by him in being established, and missions increased with his fortune and with the need and opportunity. The Bible Society and Union Seminary always had a large share of his time, money, counsel, and sympathy. The highest tribute that can be paid him is, to say that he was a consistent Christian man.

Friend or Foe?

A SEQUEL TO "OLIVER RAYMOND."

BY E. JOSEPH AXTON.

CHAPTER IV.—AN INVITATION FOR OLIVER.

"You go round the Park, not across it, I think, Mr. Weston ?" "I do, Mr. Rearden."

"I'll walk that way with you, if you have no objection ?"

“Shall be delighted, indeed,—delighted! if it will not take you out of your way much. One not a misanthrope or poet does not usually care to be alone on a walk, even though it be in the gloaming."

And so the speakers, who had just together left Daisy Villa, went arm-inarm round by the park.

Mr. Weston, a white-haired old gentleman with bright grey eyes, always took the lion's share of the conversation, whatever his company might be. This occasion was no exception to the rule, so that Rearden soon found himself listening, by no means unwillingly, to a full and detailed account of his companion's business, tastes, opinions, and life, without being required to answer or join in, save by some simple monosyllable or phrase.

"Bless me!" said the old gentleman, "Only five years since I went to Birmingham; but what changes have taken place! My old friend-my oldest friend, Mr. Rearden, is Mr. Bradford"—

"So I understand, sir."

"Yes-my oldest friend. And I make ve-ry few. But I was saying, he's quite a merchant now. And that's owing, chiefly, to a suggestion of yours, is it not ?"

"Well," modestly returned Amos, "I certainly did suggest the wholesale trade, when Mr. Bradford came in for that money, but"—

"Honour, where honour is due! You deserve high credit for that idea, which promises to make our friend-and Raymond and Miss Vaughan into the bargain-rich for life. Honour, where honour is due. And that girl and boy!— for they were no more when I left-what a fine pair they have become! But I suppose I must not say too much about charming Miss Vaughan in present company, eh, Mr. Rearden ?" and the old gentleman laughed slily, eyeing his companion sideways. "You are not without eyes."

"But an honourable man never sees charms which another claims, Mr. Weston," gravely returned Rearden. "I suppose you knew Miss Vaughan's father?" he added, in the most careless of tones.

"Knew him!" echoed the other "as well as I know Bradford, and a handsome, generous fellow he was, too; and merry also-merry as a bird, like his pretty wife, until his vagabond friend, Grant, betrayed his friendship and ruined him."

"Ruined him!" repeated Rearden, looking into Mr. Weston's face.

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Yes, ruined him; ruined him deliberately, with a smiling, hypocritical face, and a plausible tongue. They had been schoolmates together. Grant afterwards went to sea, while Vaughan entered his father's drapery business, which, when it became his own, he made a splendid success. Then Grant, who used to visit him whenever he returned from a voyage, one day came with an infallible plan for making a fortune. The scoundrel!" Mr, Weston, his eyes flashing with angry memories, breathed hard as he paused a moment, while Amos asked suggestively:

"Did he rob Mr. Vaughan ?"

“Rob him! yes—in effect. He was chief mate of a small ship trading to the China seas. He came to Vaughan with a glowing story about the huge profits he could make by taking a share in the cargo of silks and dyes, and wanted a thousand pounds. Of course Vaughan lent it at once, believing all the other said. You can guess the end. The ship was attacked by Malay

FRIEND OR FOE?

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pirates, and everything lost. Yet Vaughan never blamed him. He went bankrupt when that money would have saved him, yet he never uttered a reproach against Grant, but died quietly of a broken heart, and left his wife to follow him within two months."

"A sad, sad story," murmured Rearden, in a pained tone. never return ?"

"But did Grant

"Oh yes-he returned. Full of repentance, of course; and went away again, swearing to regain the money, or perish in the attempt. We know the value of his oaths however: it's twelve years since he showed himself."

"Perhaps he is dead," suggested Rearden.

"Perhaps so;" answered the old gentlemen, a great change coming over his manner. "I have often said I would never speak or think of this matter: it always upsets me so, and it can do no good. And that reminds me, I've done a little wrong in telling you of it. Mrs. Vaughan, Bradford's sister, made him promise, when he engaged to bring up Elsie, never to tell her the real story, because her husband never would believe but that his friend was only unfortunate, not unfaithful”—

"I'm sure," hastily answered Amos, "you can depend on me never to mention it."

"I'm satisfied of that, Mr. Rearden," returned the old gentleman, looking into the other's face, and feeling assured by the frankness and sympathy he saw therein. "As to Elsie, knowing the story will make her no happier. Indeed," Mr. Weston went on, passing from one subject to another with the usual rapidity of garrulous people, "putting aside the fact that she is an orphan, no girl ought to think herself luckier. Her own father could not love her more than her uncle does; she will certainly come in for the latter's property—all of it— I've no doubt, since it is understood that Raymond and she are to marry; and in Raymond she will have a noble fellow for a husband."

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Undoubtedly," answered Rearden, with feeling.

"Yes: Raymond is a noble fellow, I'm sure, and well worthy of Bradford's trust. Just like Vaughan, too, in his ways; in his trustfulness and simplicity, and cheerful belief in human nature; though, like all of us, he has his faults and failings. Well, here we are," Mr. Weston added, as they arrived before his door, "you'll come in and see Mrs. W., of course ?"

Rearden did enter the house, but not to stay; he had some pressing business to attend to, and so, after receiving a hearty invitation to come and spend an evening, he was soon outside again.

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Now," he muttered, as he went along, "if there is a thing I really hate, it is playing the hypocrite. But I can't help it. What that very sharp and candid friend of mine used to say is quite true: I have a genius for it-it's in my bones. Therefore, since what can't be cured must be endured, I shan't waste my virtuous wrath by being angry with myself. And, on the whole," he added, with satisfaction, "the trait is not an unprofitable one, for it has helped me to a confirmation of that story I heard a few weeks ago. And what does that mean? Simply that I have a chance of winning a fortune without trouble, if I just let things take their course. Captain Grant was just the fellow to go in for some tremendous, heroic deed; so, he comes to England, finds his friend dead, and, seeing no other way of making reparation for his mistake, makes Elsie his heiress. What then? Who would not take such a wife and fortune if chances turned in his favour? More than once Grant told me that this reparation was the chief object of his life. I am sorry, Oliver, but as I am not heroic""Hullo! where are you off to, with that frown, eh ?"

The words were accompanied by a hand coming down heavily on his back. Turning, he saw George Drewe before him.

"Didn't see you," he answered with a smile. "Going my way ?"

"Which way is that? But, I say, can you come home with me to-night? I want you to see a new violin I've bought."

"Shall be pleased when I've been to Mare Street. I have to see a customer there. Then I'm free."

"Good. I'll go with you."

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FRIEND OR FOE?

When Rearden's immediate business was despatched, the two turned back, and soon arrived at George Drewe's house, which they entered.

"Why, this is an unexpected pleasure, Mr. Rearden. There are not many good qualities in my brother; but now and then he does give me an unlookedfor delight. The rascal didn't tell me he meant to bring you home."

Miss Helena Drewe looked full of animation as she uttered this merry welcome. She was a handsome girl, with jet-black eyes, a nose somewhat of the Wellington shape, high-arched eyebrows, and a well-formed chin, and she knew (or so said uncharitable people like Mrs. Jay, next door,) that an animated manner heightened her beauty, wherefore (such people added), she was for ever animated, with and without cause.

"Indeed," returned Amos, bowing and smiling politely, though he was at the same time thinking, as he always thought when looking at Miss Drewe, that she would be beautiful if her lips were not so thin-" Indeed, but the pleasure was quite as unexpected by myself. Your brother and I met by accident."

Mrs. Drewe, a pleasant-looking old lady with grey curls and sharp bead-like eyes, here came forward, and joined in welcoming Rearden.

The latter, in his agreeable and easy way, was vowing the old lady was getting younger, when Helena broke in:

"Now, Mr. Rearden, you really must join me in my favourite old song, 'Bid me discourse.' George has bought a new violin”

"Which you, being a master, are to test as to its quality, at once," playfully continued George, who had left the room, and now returned with the instrument in question.

"Yes, at once," repeated Helena; and at once she seated herself at the piano and began to sing, in a clear soprano, while Amos played the violin (which he pronounced "splendid"), and George joined in with his musical bass.

Supper being ready soon after this, Rearden must, of course, stay; and, after that, he must of course, take just one hand at whist; after which it was, equally, of course, more than time to be gone.

birthday," said Miss Drewe, You are to come yourI'll never forgive you, if

"Now, remember! three weeks from this is my as Amos was taking his departure," my twenty-first. self, and bring your friend, Mr. Raymond, at all costs. you forget or fail."

"Helena can be very hard-hearted, if she likes," laughed Mrs. Drewe. "Miss Drewe's commands are those of a queen," smiled Rearden, "and shall be obeyed as such."

"And you will find her anger very royal, if you deserve it; for I've promised myself Mr. Raymond's friendship sometime. So remember. Good night." Something seemed to give Amos great amusement as he made his way home, for now and then he laughed uproariously. Perhaps she has made a mistake,

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and means the thirty-first." Then he laughed again.

Presently, however, he became grave. Suppose she should fascinate Oliver? That was a new idea. And not an improbable one, either, seeing how simple he was, and how little he seemed to care for Elsie.

Rearden went to bed that night with a sense of extreme satisfaction in the fact that everything seemed to favour him; and when he went to sleep he dreamt of living in a fine house, of a carriage and pair, and ease and luxury.

THE SMOKE IDOL.

It is estimated by Mr. Samuel Smiles that the sum expended every twelve months in the United Kingdom in cigars and tobacco, and afterwards "lost in smoke," exceeds eleven millions of pounds sterling!

This sum far exceeds the amount of the Poor-rates of the entire nation! It is more than ten times as much as all the Missionary and Bible Societies raise in the same period! Is this as it should be ?

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