d [ d :

Heaven's

Fragments.

ORGANIZATION OF SABBATH will lie here on the lounge and you

can pray for me." And they did
pray, each in her own simple way,
"Lord, help papa and make him a
good man.'
."Shortly after that, when
at the table, little Katie said, "Papa,
you must pray before you eat;" but
he replied, "Katie, dear, I don't
know how to pray. Then she went
to him, and putting his hands to-
gether in the childish form, told him
to pray, "Our Father who art in
heaven.'

CLASSES. Our experience and observation have satisfied us that there is, perhaps, no more efficient help to good order in the Sabbath school than the organization of classes with both sexes. Both boys and girls are more careful in conduct and respectful in behaviour. Each sex is a restraint upon the other, while in the matter of study and recitation each stimulates the other. We have seen, in the same school, a class of By this time he was pretty boys utterly ungovernable, and a well broken down, as almost any father class of girls not much better, each would have been. He soon became divided, and two mixed classes formed deeply in earnest in seeking Christ; out of them, when instantly all and one day while he was praying trouble disappeared. And after all, Katie came, and putting her arms why should we depart from a plan in around his neck, said, "Papa, can't the Sabbath school which works so you love Jesus?" One night, the well in the common school, and father not being able to sleep, went which the Lord certainly has sanc- down stairs to pray. This movemert tioned in the two great schools of awakened Katie, and she followed His organizing,-to-wit, the family him, and putting her arms around and the church. It is well known his neck, prayed for him most tenthat a lady teacher can sometimes derly. With the aid of so loving and govern and interest a class of boys that have proved utterly unmanageable by a gentleman. In short, we should heartily favour a mixed organization. St. Louis (U. S.) Evangelist.

INFLUENCE OF A CHILD. The Christian at Work relates the following suggestive incident, in reference to a Pennsylvania family, consisting of father, mother, and two little girls; the elder, Ida, in her ninth year, and Katie a little over six. The mother had found an interest in Christ four or five months before. Being advised by her pastor to institute family prayer with her two children, she did so every evening. The children usually prayed as well as the mother, and soon satisfied their friends that they had met a spiritual change. Little Katie became deeply interested in her father; and one evening, when about to engage in family devotion, entreated him to come and kneel with them in prayer. He gently replied, "No, Katie, I

faithful a helper he soon realized a change. He found his Saviour and openly united with the Church. Who can estimate the joy of that household; and what an illustration it furnishes of the reward which comes from saying the word in season!

COWPER THE POET.-Perhaps no hymn in our language gives greater expression to heart experience than Cowper's "God moves in a mysterious way." It is considered one of the finest and most impressive compositions he ever wrote. It was composed just before his second attack of insanity, “the shadow of the coming eclipse had already touched his mind." Montgomery says of the hymn, that it is "rendered awfully interesting by the circumstances under which it was written in the twilight of departing reason."

AMERICAN SABBATH SCHOOLS.The school meets only once a-day, for a period varying from an hour to an hour and a-half. This plan enables the whole teaching force to

be concentrated, and has many other enviable position. I married a lovely advantages. Attached to each place girl; two children were born to us, of worship is a large school-building, and my domestic happiness was consisting of a large hall, with complete. But I was invited often various class-rooms opening into it. to social parties, where wine was There is no such thing as a National freely circulated; and I soon became day-school being used for religious a slave to its power. Before I was teaching on Sabbath, as in England. aware of it I was a drunkard. My The floor is always covered with a noble wife never taunted me with a good carpet, and the walls are hung bitter word, never ceased to pray for with maps, pictures, and illuminated my reformation. We became wretchtexts, all neatly framed and glazed. edly poor, so that my family was At one end of the room is the pinched for daily bread. One beautisuperintendent's desk, standing ful Sabbath my wife went to church, upon a small platform; the harmo- and left me lying on a lounge, nium, or piano, is placed close at sleeping off my previous night's hand. Light wooden chairs, with debauch. I was aroused by hearing cane seats, are ranged over the room, something fall heavily on the floor. in little groups, facing the platform; I opened my eyes and saw my little each scholar being thus provided boy of six years old tumbling upon with a separate seat, which prevents the carpet. His old brother said to any crowding. Sometimes small forms, with comfortable backs, and seating four or five scholars a-piece, are arranged to make three sides of a square, the teacher's chair occupying the fourth side; and a small compartment under each seat holds books and caps.-Church S. S. Magazine.

THAT'S THE WAY PAPA DOES." -A friend gave me lately the experience of a skilful professional man in about the following words:-"My early practice," said the doctor, ". was successful, and I soon attained an

him, 'Now get up and fall again. That's the way papa does: let's play we are drunk!' I watched the child as he personated my beastly movements, in a way that would have done credit to an actor. I arose and left the house, groaning in agony and remorse. I walked off miles into the country, thinking over my abominable sin, and the example I was setting before my children. I solemnly resolved, that with God's help I would quit my cups, and I did."-Rev. Dr. Cuyler.

Intelligence.

purposes; two special committees were elected, to consider what action should be taken to give effect to the suggestions. It was reported that the Rutherglen and Cambuslang teachers had recently held two meetings for conference, as to the propriety of re-organizing the Union for that district; and that the ques

GLASGOW SABBATH SCHOOL UNION. Board schools for Sabbath school -The usual monthly meeting of directors was held on Monday, 10th March-Mr. William Fife, one of the vice-presidents, occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance. Reports were read of the proceedings of the Partick and Hillhead, Southern, Middle, and the NorthEastern District Unions. The directors approved of several suggestions tion was still under consideration. contained in the Middle Union's report with reference to the order in which the different Unions might hold their musical festivals, and the desirability of securing the use of the

There was some expectation, however, that the Cambuslang teachers would form a separate Union, as there was a large population and several churches in that neighbourhood. £245 had

MIDDLE DISTRICT SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.-This Union met on 11th February-the president, Mr. Thos. H. Watson, in the chair. The committee lately appointed to con

been received up to date for the annual business meeting be held on Kilmun Sea-side Home. The annual 21st March; and office-bearers were meeting of the Union was appointed nominated for 1879-80. The convento take place on Tuesday evening, er of visitation committee reported 15th April. In view of the approach- as to work done since previous ing election of the Glasgow School meeting; he also read several visitors' Board, a committee was appointed to reports. consider the matter; and in the event of a contest arising, the committee were empowered to convene a general meeting of the directors, if considered necessary. The committee on Sabbath observance sider the subject of decrease in reported as to the efforts made to attendance of scholars, recommended induce the Tramway Car Company that a general canvass of the Union's to stop the running of cars on district should be undertaken by the Sabbath; and that the directors had various societies, and suggested the intimated their resolution to cease second Sabbath of March as a running them after the 31st March. suitable date; the recommendation SOUTH-EASTERN SABBATH SCHOOL was approved of, and the committee UNION. This Union met on Tuesday instructed to allocate the district to evening, 11th March-23 directors the societies. Office-bearers for the present; Mr. James Millar, president, ensuing year were nominated; and occupied the chair. Favourable re- a committee appointed to arrange ports were submitted of several for the annual meeting. A converschools visited during the month; and sation ensued regarding musical also in reference to the resuscitation festivals; and it was thought advisaof the Young Men's Bible Institution ble to suggest to the General Union in Well Street, Calton. It was agreed the propriety of taking steps to to hold the arnual meeting and regulate the number and order of soiree on Tuesday, 8th April, in the these. It was further unanimously Great Western Hall, Canning Street; agreed to request the General Union and office-bearers for ensuing year to consider the advisability of ascerwere nominated. taining whether the public schools, the property of the School Board, could not be procured for Sabbath school work; the opinion being general that societies would take advantage of them if they could be had; many Sabbath schools being at present conducted in premises unsuitable in every respect.

NORTH-EASTERN SABBATH SCHOOL UNION. This Union met on 17th February-29 directors present; Mr. James Smith, president, in the chair. The chairman referred in suitable terms to the loss which the Union had sustained by the death of Mr. John Henderson; and the secretary was instructed to prepare a minute expressive of this, and the directors' heart-felt sympathy with the bereaved widow, and forward copy to Mrs. Henderson. It was reported that the Baillieston Sabbath School Union had been received into the General Union as a separate District Union; and the disjunction of the Societies in that district previously connected with this Union was then formally minuted. It was arranged that the

SOUTHERN DISTRICT SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.-The annual social meeting of directors of this Union was held on Monday evening, 3rd March, in Veitch's Temperance Hotel-Mr. Robert Neill, president, occupied the chair; and there was an attendance of 33 representatives. After tea, Mr. Aird reported that Thos. Morrison, Esq., had, with his usual ability, conducted the Model Lesson Class for six nights in January

and February; and that the atten- | to them when they went out into the dance at each meeting had been world, cheering them in the midst encouraging. A vote of thanks to of their toils and anxieties.

He

Mr. Morrison for his valuable ser- spoke next of the moral influence of vices was unanimously passed. Re- music. He would give it a foremost ports from the secretary and treasurer place as a means of elevating the were then submitted. The former, moral tone of the masses. The though necessarily imperfect, owing meeting was also addressed by the to a number of societies having failed Rev. Mr. Campbell, who pointed out to send in their returns, shewed that the immense service which would be five new societies had joined during rendered to the churches by the the past year; and that considerable acquisition of music on the part of progress had been made in other the children. Mr. Hastie might departments of the Union's work. A variety of points in the reports supplied material for an interesting conference, which occupied the rest of the evening; and the proceedings terminated with prayer.

think that the music they had been listening to had perished, but it was not so; it would go with the children wherever they went. Then, referring to the interesting fact, that the children singing side by side in the choir had come from so many different congregations, he was of opinion, he said, that if the audience thought of the effects of this upon the children, they would say that it might be possible for all the congregations, as well as all the choirs, to

he thought, "devoutly to be wished." The sooner all petty distinctions of Church organizations were swept away the better; and he thought they could begin in no better way to accomplish this than by music. Votes of thanks were accorded to the chairman, to Mr. Hastie and Mr. Robertson, the conductor and the organist, to the teachers of the different classes forming the choir, and to the children of the choir.

PARTICK AND HILLHEAD SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.-On Friday evening, 7th March, the second annual festival of song in connection with this Union was given in the Burgh Hall, Partick. There was a crowded audience, and the meeting proved a most enjoyable one. Provost become united-"a consummation," Kennedy presided, and was accompanied to the platform by Rev. Messrs. M'Coll, Campbell, Wallace, and Brownlee. The chairman, in the course of a few remarks, commended the children and their conductor, Mr. Hastie, for the manner in which the pieces had been sung. It was pleasant, he said, to listen to children's voices singing such beautiful hymns. It always reminded him of Dr. Guthrie's request on his death-bed, when asked what he would like to hear sung: "Sing me," he said, "a bairn's hymn. "Rev. Mr. M'Coll, addressing himself first to the children in the choir, said they must, he was sure, have had hard work in learning to sing as they had been doing; but they had seen that evening what had come out of their hard work. The result was similar when any work was entered upon in the way of duty -such work was sure to yield music. He assured them that the songs they had been singing would often return

NEWTON PLACE CHURCH SABBATH SCHOOL, PARTICK.-The singing class in connection with this school, under the leadership of Mr. Robert Johnstone, gave their second annual Service of Sacred Song in the Church, on Wednesday evening, the 19th February last. The Rev. John M'Coll presided. The pieces on the programme-chiefly hymns-were rendered in a very creditable manner. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Jas. Wallace, East Free Church; and Mr. H. M. Ashcroft.

ST. VINCENT ESTABLISHED CHURCH