DURING the November afternoons, when the stream of visitors came away from the Exhibition by gaslight, the eyes of many thousands were attracted, as they poured forth from the eastern entrance, by a pretty little erection which had been on the same spot ever since the 1st of May, but had never been so much noticed as now that it was fronted with a brilliant illumination. There was a mystery about it, which occasioned many inquiries and speculations; and some who did not take the trouble to ascertain its real nature, passed it with the vague idea that it was one of the ever new contrivances for puffing and selling. A little observation, however, convinced one that something worthy of a closer inspection was going forward; and as soon as the eye had time to take in the inscriptions on the front, the matter became satisfactorily explained.

In seven different languages were printed the words: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Beneath each quotation of this passage was the name of the country in whose language it was rendered, and above it the flag and arms of the particular nation. In the centre was old England, and on either side of the land of Bibles were France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Spain--and then, over the compartment furthest on England's right, there was a blank, and above that the Hebrew word "Israel," with the Gospel promise in Jewish characters. Israel has no country; and in the gathering of the nations, the most ancient of them all could only be known by the name which

of old time God himself gave them, preserved in the sacred letters.

And this one word ISRAEL was enough. Without coat of arms or banner, or name of fatherland, it caught the eyes and hearts of the scattered ones, and drew them to the spot. No less than two thousand Jews, from almost every part of the world, called at the Hebrew division of the Bible-stand, and asked for copies of the Word of Life. A large number of them, on being informed that the books were not sold, but freely given away, expressed themselves as unwilling to receive them without making some return, and accordingly deposited in the offering-box contributions which assisted the work of love. It was pleasing to think how God was, by this means, employing this extraordinary people as missionary agents. Jews from every European territory, as well as from Palestine-from Africa, Australia, India, and even from China-took away portions, and in many cases the whole of the New Testament, and by this time have conveyed them to regions where probably no ordinary missionary has penetrated, but where the interests of commerce give the ubiquitous Israelite facility of access.

It may interest our readers to know, that while the Bible-stand was originated and sustained by the private liberality of a few noble-hearted Christian men, who thus availed themselves of the International concourse to circulate gratuitously, in seven languages, three millions of copies of the books of the New Testament, the distributor in the Hebrew department was a missionary of the

"Brit eh Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews," who by this means found an opportunity of spiritual conversation with multitudes of his brethren. With many of them he had repeated interviews; and he has good hope that not a few have been led to embrace the truth as it is in Jesus.

This is one of the several ways in which the above society has recently extended its operations, and no one who has observed its useful course of labour can help rejoicing in its success.

Among its newest agencies is one which may well command special sympathy, viz., a Female Mission to the Jewesses. The Jewish mothers and daughters have been sadly neglected, and it is time that Christian women concerned themselves as to what becomes of their Jewish sisters when they part from the world, where no one has eared for their souls, to the awful realities of eternity. Alas! for these children of the race whose Marys and Marthas, "and Joanna and Susanna, and many others ministered unto Him with their substance." Alas! that they should be permitted to grow up from infancy to womanhood without even hearing of Jesus, except when His name is blasphemed, and to pass away from us without a ray of light in their last hour! It is a relief to know that some one is caring for them; and we can only say we wish | the society may be enabled to employ not merely one solitary Christian woman among the thousands of Jewesses living within our own neighbourhoods, but a sufficient number to reach every Jewish sister to whom access can be gained. It will be a blessed day for Israel when that most beautiful of all forms of influence the hallowed power of pious motherhood-comes to be established among them.

Another interesting branch of Evangelic effort among the Jews is found in the Christian schools, maintained in regions where the Jews have none of their own. It is delightful to witness the effect of the Gospel on the hearts of children, and we recently observed a pleasing proof of this in a letter from a

missionary schoolmaster in Wallachia, whose young Jewish scholars have for several months carried on a monthly "Missionary Concert," at which they give their offerings, in a box consecrated to the object, towards the evangelization of the heathen.

Those who have concerned themselves with the affairs of Italy, will also have noticed that a most important work is being done among the Jews of that country. In Leghorn they have welcomed the missionary, and it seems that he not only has access to them in their dwellings and in the synagogues, but in his own house, where many constantly visit him; and large congregations are now assembling every week, sometimes twice or thrice, to hear the public preaching of the Gospel, specially addressed to them. We congratulate the British Society on the blessing with which God has crowned their Italian mission, and only regret that we have not space for further reference to the fields of labour occupied by their twenty-five missionaries. It has gratified us occasionally to hear of the admission of converts, under its auspices, into various metropolitan churches; and it was a truly animating and affecting scene when, a few weeks ago, a densely crowded congregation assembled in Finsbury Chapel, to hear a solemn confession of Christ from the lips of a son of Abraham, who declared himself a follower of Abraham's faith.

We cannot, however, conclude this brief notice without expressing the deepest regret that, according to statements in the Jewish Herald, of last month, the society is in difficulties for want of funds. It appears that the enlargement of the mission agencies in Palestine, on the Continent, in Italy, and in London, during the last three years, has entailed so much unforeseen expense, that the committee are now on the eve of withdrawing some of their missionaries, unless a liberal and immediate augmentation of the income can be obtained. It is to be hoped that the challenge of the treasurer-who offers an additional £10 for every £100 specially contributed in this emergency-will meet

a generous and speedy response. We have pleasure in copying the announcement that subscriptions and donations may be paid to Sir C. E. Eardley, Bart.;

to Rev. James Hamilton, D.D., Rev. J. Stoughton, Rev. W. M. Bunting, or to Mr. G. Yonge, 1, Crescent-place, Blackfriars.

Simeon of

Cambridge.*

requiring to be very gravely weighed, and remembering it is a season of the year for pleasant, social intercourse, we

"these paper works are now preaching their own funeral." If ever a prediction was falsified by the event, that has been. Myriads of books, indeed, have been buried that were making a noise in Goad and Dell's time-a good thing too-but the births since have been enormous, and every day is adding to their number; so that while publishers and booksellers are levying toll on them as they pass through their turnpikes, the doors of editors are clamorously besieged by such crowds, challenging notice and expecting praise, that the craft are at their wits' end. For our own part, we must confess ourselves to be in great straits at the beginning of this year, when we look round at our visitors in manifold shape and colour, who nod at us in friendly recognition, and expect us, with a formal bow and with a neatly turned compliment, to introduce them to our section of " 'the religious world." In striving to do justice to all during past months, we fear some have been overlooked who claimed our attention-but we will attempt our best this year; and we hope that friends who knock at our door, and ask an introduction, will remember that we have to decide between conflicting claims for pre-eminence; and also to consult the likings of those with whom they are anxious to establish a favourable acquaint

with a gentlemanly face-rather a high Churchman, we fancy, from what he has said to us-who comes up to town with some cherished recollections of good old Father Simeon and his disciples some thirty or forty years ago. We shall leave him presently to tell some of his own tales; but in the meanwhile we should like one or two words.

The book is a sample of hero worship -as it was when we were boys, and as it is now we are verging towards old men. The worship exhibits two different phases. Formerly there was more disposition to do homage to living heroes; now it is chiefly reserved for dead ones. Simeon was an oracle at Cambridge when many of the elder curates, rectors, and dignitaries of the Establishment were freshmen-an oracle such as in vain they would seek for now, in any of the colleges of their Alma Mater. There is no one man there at present with a social influence like that of the fellow of King's; at any rate-which is perhaps the more becoming way for us to put it -there is no one that people outside now hear of as we once did of him. Moral and religious powers in the place we doubt not there are, which together produce effects on a very large scale; but we know of no one individual with such peculiar force-no one single centre from which such impulses spring and flow. Altogether, for aught we are aware, there may be more of learning, genius, and wit-more of sound personal piety and general respectability and decorum of conduct on the banks of the Cam than there used to be-but nobody in any school stands exactly where Simeon did.