On my way I passed the home of my friend Lewis, but when I knocked at the closed door I had no response from within. Still I certainly heard little stirs. "Is any one at home?" I cried at last. "Oh, is it you?" the joyful little boy said. "I'll try to open the door." After great efforts he succeeded. I had a bag of ginger-nuts in my hand. I held it out, open, to him, but he put his two little hands resolutely behind his back. "I've no penny, I lost it yesterday," he observed. I laughed. "But I am giving, not selling. Take some." "May I take two for baby ?". "Yes, and four for yourself." But he went even shares. is baby doing ?" I asked. "What "Pulling corks out of that bottle, and then, when she gets one up, I push it down again. Mother told me to do it when she locked us in." "And you?" "Oh! I have a beetle in this glass, and I'm feeding him with cabbage leaves. If he eats them all, and grows so big that he bursts mother's glass, what shall I do ?" "I don't think he will; but if I were you, I would let him free whenever he gets tired of the glass and the leaves." "Would you? then I will; but won't you sit down and talk ?" Here he sprang on my neck and gave a great hug. we talk about ?" I said. "What could "Oh, God; let's talk about Him. He made the world, didn't He?" "Yes." "And what else? Are there Hallelujahs? Did He make any? I want to be a Hallelujah some day." "There are cherubs," I said, laughing; "and now good-bye, I must be off. Take care of baby and the beetle." I heard the careful little soul labouring away at the great bolt as I left. My round-headed philosophical Jack met me in great excitement. 'Yes, poor Alice is burnt, but there is a pudding for tea, made with eggs and treacle and crumbs, and they're roasting it in a pot on the fire-did I tell you there are eggs in it, lady? I saw them!" "Yes, you did." "Well, they're roasting it with water in a pot―a splendid pudding.” It really equalled Jack's encomiums, and was enjoyed also by a young glass-blower I sometimes meet there, who is very intelligent, and loves to discuss politics and religion with me. Wednesday. I went to do some shopping to-day and came upon Nance, who evidently wished not to be seen. She was very dirty and untidy. After good morning, I said, "To whom does your body belong to-day, Nance ?" "To GOD!" she whispered, reverently. "Oh, and you keep it so dirty!" and with that she disappeared, and I went into the baker's shop. Poor little thing, I find she is spending most of this holiday-time in bed, no doubt with few and scanty meals, for the family is sadly pinched; yet she has only once or twice come to ask me for a crust of breakfast. After some hours of quiet reading and writing, I went to the Church and Stage Guild meeting; the programme being, "Recreation! to be afforded by music, reciting, and conversation." The latter, I am sorry to say, is only a mere farce and pretence, as, instead of a decent interval being allowed between the pieces given, you have barely time to make a few introductory remarks, or to move next some friend, when the signal for silence is again given. This affords only provocation to us and how are members ever to become acquainted thus? As the meeting lasts three hours, one hour might be spared for talk. all; Thursday. I spent my morning quietly enough with my friend, to dinner, at last; but oh, how sad the afternoon has been! I was summoned to the young artizan's home, and found there the deepest woe and desolation. My lovely cherub boy friend, little Lewis, lay dead, the hoof of a cart-horse drawing a great wagon, having crushed in his small chest and lungs, and caused instant death. The mother was like one distracted, and no wonder. A man with a mechanical piano and a number of birds chirping at the back came by, and, of course, all the children in the street were round them; for, in addition to the firstmentioned charms, for a penny the birds would tell your fortune, and push you out a printed paper with it all written down for you. 'And gave him the penny," sobbed the unhappy young woman; "I told him to try if he would live to be one hundred and eight, like my old grandfather, and look at him now, my darling boy." I 66 "He's better off," I said, and thought, as I parted the clustering golden curls, on the marble white brow, and kissed it. A smile of delight still parted the child's full lips, and he held his little fortune tight between his fingers. We smoothed it out and read the foolish presages between our tears. Harmonized Teachings on the Historical Facts of the Gospel, for the use of Teachers in Day and Sunday Schools, by the Rev. W. H. Lowder, (John Hodges,) in so far as we can judge by the first part, seems to promise exceedingly well. Parallel with the events of the Gospel history are the Prophecies and Types of the Old Testament; and each lesson is illustrated from the Prayer Book and by miscellaneous explanatory notes. The work however will bear the bestowal of more labour on it. Thus in illustrating our LORD's office as Shepherd there is no reference to the twenty-third Psalm, and the misprints are very numerous. Are Miracles credible? by the Rev. John James Lias, Vicar of S. Edward's, Cambridge, and Hulsean Lecturer for 1884. (Hodder and Stoughton.) This handy little volume appears, it must be confessed, in rather "mixed society." Out of ten writers this new "Theological Library" advertises only three who belong to the Church. Nevertheless Mr. Lias has done his part well, and perhaps has given a better definition of a miracle than any previous writer. He defines it to be "an exception to the observed order of nature, brought about by GOD in order to reveal His will or purpose." The work we say is useful; but Mr. Lias hardly says enough in our judgment to explain the proper position of the Evangelical Miracles. By some apologists their purport has been misunderstood and exaggerated, and so others have been disposed to minimise their importance. The fact is, a broad distinction is observable between the use that our LORD made of them and the way in which the Apostles spoke of them. Our LORD appealed to them directly as the proof of His Messiahship, "Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up." To the Apostles however greater proofs were present: the Death, and Resurrection, and Ascension of their LORD were what they referred to, and the miracles of healing, &c., receded into a lower positionviz. simply as necessary exertions of His benevolence; for be it remembered if CHRIST went about "doing good" it could not be in any other way than by miracle; He could not heal the sick by medicine nor perform surgical operations on the blind or lame. It is in this general way that S. Peter refers to CHRIST's miracles in his sermon on the occasion of Cornelius' Baptism (Acts x. 35-42) while what he emphasises is the fact that GOD "raised Him from the dead," and that He is "ordained to be the Judge of quick and dead." We hardly think that Mr. Lias has sufficiently distinguished between these two kinds of miracles. A Guide-a Comforter, being passages from the Bible, with a brief prayer for every day in the year, arranged by M. A. Wilson, (Frederick Warne and Co., London.) This is a well arranged little book with interleaved pages for a private diary. The prayers are taken from the Psalms and other Scriptural sources, and the texts selected for each day are intended to combine consolation with precept. It is attractively bound, and is very suitable for a birthday present. We are compelled to advise all parents and teachers to avoid The Little Folks' History of England, by Isa Craig-Knox, (Cassell, Petter, and Co.) It goes strongly, and without discrimination, against everything that Church men are used to revere. Correspondence. [The Editor is not responsible for the opinions of the Correspondents.] To the Editor of the Churchman's Companion. Answers. MARKING THE JUBILEE. SIR,-With your permission I shall be glad to carry out the idea of your article on "The Jubilee of the Church" into some minuteness of detail. Many of the clergy, as you say, are not in a condition to go to any great expense, and at the same time I think that every zealous Parish Priest should endeavour to mark his sense of GOD'S great mercy and goodness to the Church of England in some practical way. I will assume that they have already done all they can in the restoration of their churches, and the multiplication of services, and the adaptation of them to the wants of their people-above all, that there is at least a weekly Eucharist. Still it is surprising, as one travels about the country, to find in how few churches the true idea of worship appears to be realised by the clergy. Take first the altar and its surroundings. I will specify a few indispensable conditions, one or other of which are frequently overlooked. The altar should be never less than five feet in length, more often six or eight feet; it should be raised on a footpace, as well as the whole sanctuary lifted a step or two above the nave; it should have a retable or super-altar for the Cross, candlesticks, and flowervases; there should be a reredos, or some kind of hanging behind it. The celebrant should be alone at the altar; and the eastern position, I need scarcely say, is essential; the seats for the clergy should be on the south side, looking towards the north. The family of the clergyman should not be allowed in the chancel any more than that of the squire. The lectern should stand below the chancel steps on the side opposite the pulpit, not in the middle of the chancel, so as to obstruct the view of the altar from the congregation. It is very painful too to see cloths of common domestic material in use covering the altar and the sacred vessels. I will add a few hints as to the saying of Matins and Evensong. The introductory sentence should not, and the Exhortation should be, visibly addressed to the people. In giving out the Psalms do not use more words than are necessary, e.g., 10th day, Ps. 50; and by all means omit the text which is unfortunately prefixed to each hymn in almost all recent hymnals. In giving out the lesson do not contradict yourself by saying, Here beginneth such and such a chapter at the tenth or fifteenth verse. The old formula has undoubtedly become somewhat inconvenient by the frequency with which chapters are now broken up. But if an alteration is needful, it will be better simply to name the chapter, without any preface, and to add the verse at which it begins. It is a pity we do not see the churchyard Cross more generally revived. In Somersetshire there is scarcely a parish that does not retain some portion of one; but they are going rapidly to decay.-Yours, &c., S. T. M. P.S.-I observe that, by an oversight, you omit all mention of the diocese of Winchester. The history of that diocese is curious. It was left by Bishop Sumner in a terrible condition; but in the short period during which the diocese was administered by Bishop Wilberforce, a great deal was done as well in South London as at Portsmouth and Southampton. At his death, and on the division of the diocese, the course of improvement seemed absolutely arrested. Now, however, at length, after ten years, the Bishop of Winchester seems disposed to deal effectually with Portsea and Gosport, and their sad surroundings, and Bishop Thorold is proposing to build as many as ten new churches in the diocese of Rochester, in addition to what has been done by private venture in Battersea and Wimbledon, and one or two other parishes on the Thames. Queries. GREEK VERSIONS OF THE ATHANASIAN CREED. me SIR,-I should feel much obliged if some of your correspondents would give seme information on the subject of Greek versions of the "Quicunque vult," commonly called the Athanasian Creed. I should wish to know-(1.) When such version (or versions, if more than one) was made. (2.) Where published. (3.) Whether sanctioned or received by any Council or Synod. (4.) Whether in use by any congregation of the Greek-speaking Churches, and where. By answering any of these particulars you will greatly oblige, Yours, &c., INSCIUS. P.S.-I may add that none of the |