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to our countrymen in the coloniesspecially the preaching of the Gospel; ever making the founding or supporting of Churches subservient to that high and holy end. The Committee are grateful that the Churches-beset with crowds of applicants for gifts for other worthy and holy ends-have hitherto enabled them to do a good measure of service in the evangelisa

tion of the colonies, and, upon the whole, to hold the ground which Congregationalism has won; and they confidently believe that as it has been in the past, it will be in the future.

Subscribers, Auxiliary Societies, and Congregational Associations are respectfully requested to pay their several contributions on or before the 30th of April next.

ON THE TERM "CONGREGATIONAL.”

DEAR MR. EDITOR,

I AM glad that you are opening the pages of the Christian Witness, to the discussion of questions relating to the constitution and working of our Churches, and I avail myself of the opportunity it furnishes, of directing attention to a disposition, on the part of some of our brethren, to change the names by which we, as a denomination, are usually known. It is gravely proposed to abandon the time-honoured phrases, Congregational or Independent Churches, for the modern one of Free Churches. This last title is no doubt properly applicable to some communities of recent origin, but it is not properly distinctive in relation to our Churches; yet it would appear that some few of our ministers think it is, and are even anxious for its adoption. My valued friend, the Rev. H. M. Gunn, has recently published a most interesting pamphlet on "Free Churches in Chard and the neighbourhood," which may be cordially recommended for the beauty of its composition, the variety of information it contains, and the truly Christian spirit it breathes. At the close, however, of this Essay, Mr. Gunn, referring to the disadvantage of being called Nonconformists or Dissenters, says: "Let us adopt the name, Free

Churchmen. It is already used by some and is well understood. As Free Churchmen we bear an honourable title." Now if by this recommendation it is only meant that we employ the phrase in a general way, as when Mr. Gunn speaks of Free Churches in and around Chard, including Presbyterians, Independents, and Baptists, I have nothing to urge against it, except that it may be and will be used without any such formal commendation. But if it means that each particular Church should be called Free, instead of Independent, and that our denomination should be called one of Free Churches rather than Congregational, then I do demur, and that most seriously, and for several reasons.

1. Change, unless absolutely necessary, is a proof of weakness, and there appears no necessity for this alteration. We have lived and done well with the old name, and I do not think we need desire the new one, for we think the old is better."

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2. There is an historic traditional value in the name Independent or Congregational, by which we are well known on the Continents of Europe and America, as well as in other parts of the world, which we ought not to be called upon to give

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A few days since I received the intelligence of the death of a very dear friend, who in constant suffering had yet lived a brave, pure, and generous life, but was always in bondage through fear of death. His friends were anxious about the manner in which he would meet the last enemy. When the hour of conflict came, though in the full exercise of his mental faculties, he seemed another man. "Tell my friends," said he, "this is the happiest morning of my life!" Thank God, death had no terror for a soul castled in Jesus! Death is not night to the good man, but the inbreaking of an eternal morning to the disenchanted spirit. Could we gather up into one all the death-bed utterances of the saints, what a hymn of victory it would be! Oh! there is an overcoming power of faith which converts the gloomy portal of the grave into a triumphal arch, under which the hosts of the living God have marched, and are marching still, in grand procession into the eternal city.— G. N. Webber.

WHAT WE OWE TO CHRIST.

I remember I have read a passage in St. Cyprian, how he brings in the Devil triumphing over Christ in this manner: As for my followers, I never died for them as Christ did for His; I never promised them so great reward, as Christ hath done to His; and yet I have more followers than He and they do more for

me, than His do for Him. O let the thought of our giving the Devil occasion thus to triumph over Christ in our slackness and negligence in following after Him, cause shame and confusion to cover our faces.--Burroughs.

THE CHRISTIAN A MAGNET AND AN
ADAMANT.

There are two more blessed conjunctures which add much honour to you; the one is a facile yieldableness of spirit to any (though much inferior) in anything, where good may be done; and yet a strong, unmoveable, steadfast, resolute spirit against that which is evil. It was the high commendation that Nazanien gave of Athanasius that he was Magnes and Adamas, a loadstone in his sweet, gentle, drawing nature; and yet an adamant in his resolute stout carriage against those who were evil.Burroughs.

OPERAS AND THEATRES.

"If operas and theatres do not come under the apostle's description of 'the lusts of the flesh,' I am at a loss to know what do; they are of the very essence of carnality. It is in vain to plead the love of music-doubtless the love of music is a good gift-but Christians are often called to self-denial in things quite lawful in themselves, much more when a lawful thing is associated with what is

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MACAULAY'S FUNERAL.

"Did you read the account of Macaulay's funeral?-mostly attended by empty coaches! This is really to add a triumph to death, and an insult to greatness. Empty coaches for the great historian!! But all is vanity here, if not vexation of spirit; for poor Macaulay was far away, one would fain hope in a better Home. So all is done!-no more volumes! materials but no manuscripts! Snatched away in the midst of his work, and none left to finish it! This is vanity and vexation of spirit."-G. Steward.

Pages for our Young Friends.

A TALK WITH CHILDREN ABOUT BEING CONTENTED.

By the Reb. George Stewart, Newcastle.

DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,--The other day when I heard some of my little friends chatting, it came into my mind, that as you were good enough a little while ago to let me talk with you, as I like to do with children, you would listen to what I might say about being contented.

You are pleased with stories, and I will tell you some. Perhaps you will wonder what my little friends could have been doing to make me think of talking to you as I am doing now. I will tell you. One afternoon the children were playing with some of their school companions. The nursery was turned upside-down, as servants would say; for the chairs and boxes and all the toys that could be got together were put, as children think they ought to be put, when the game to be played at is keeping shops. Some of the customers rode on the rockinghorses to the market; some sat in chairs drawn by horses--you know what that means-and you can easily imagine what a noise there was. All at once the buying and selling came to an end, and the tired little shopkeepers and customers placed the chairs and boxes in the form of half-a-circle in front of the fire.

There was silence. Wondering what the secret of this silence could be, I opened the door and peeped in just in time to hear Margaret say, "Well, I can't bear my name; I wish I had been called Jessie instead!" I closed the door and came away thinking, how many things there are children would like to have altered that never will be altered, and what a good thing it would be if we would all learn to be more contented. We cannot always have our own way in this world-it is a good thing we cannot -and the sooner we make up our minds to this the better.

It is not only their names some children are not contented with; I have heard some girls say they wished they were boys. Do little boys ever wish they were girls? All the wishing in the world will not alter a matter like this; and if it would, the discontented might soon be very sorry for the change -very sorry that they were not satisfied to be just what the good God had been pleased to make them. They might be as sorry as the discontented fish werethe little trouts we read of in Henry Brooke's fable. Three silver trouts lived

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in a beautiful stream of clear water. Two of them were not contented. wanted to be a bird, and to fly away as birds do. Another wanted to know all about nets and hooks, that he might always keep out of danger. Well, God gave wings to the first, and he flew away-and away-till he came to a desert where there was nothing but sand. Faint, thirsty, and tired of flying, he tried to fly a little further to find some water, but his wings failed and he panted to death on the hot sand. The second fish, instead of being happier for knowing so much as he came to know about all kinds of danger, was always in terror. He was afraid to go into deep water, lest the great fishes there should swallow him up; and he was afraid to go into shallow water, lest it should dry up and leave him. If he saw a fly or anything he would like to eat, he was afraid to touch it, lest there should be a hook hidden under it. So he also pined away and died. The third and happy fish was the one that said, "Kind Providence can take care of me and will give me what is best for me." Let us often think how glad we ought to be that God has given us life, and that He has not made us stones, or placed us among the poor heathen.

I like those words put into the mouth of the contented little fish; but I think some children forget that "kind Provi. dence gives them what is best" for them. You have, perhaps, seen some children pout and turn away from good plain food-the very food that is best for them. Don't you think it would serve them right to have to change places with very poor children who cannot afford to be so dainty? Ah, then, how very soon they would be glad to come back to their well-spread tables and to promise to behave better! It is a sin against parents not to be satisfied with what they take so much pains to provide, and it is a sin against God. Discontented people all think a great deal too much of themselves, and fancy that they deserve to be better off; they forget that the hardest crust thrown

into the street is more than they deserve. If we were to have no more. food than we deserve, we should soon starve to death.

When you see a carriage pass by, and the children in it dressed in silk or satin, perhaps you wish you were as well off as they are. But how do you know that, after all, you are not much better off? Perhaps your parents and friends are much kinder to you than theirs; perhaps you have much better health, and are loved more by your brothers and sisters. If you could have your wish, and were to change places with those richer children, in a very short time you might say, "I wish I were back again in my old home; I can do without the carriage and the other things those children had, but I cannot do with no more love and kindness than I find here."

Some of you are old enough now to run up stairs and fetch what is wanted, old enough to take care of your little brothers and sisters for a little time,. old enough to do a great many useful things. Do you ever fret at having to do these things? Do you ever think to yourselves that you would like to be so rich when you get older, that you should have nothing to do to serve others and be able to spend all your time in seeking your own pleasure? By-and-bye you will know that the happiest people in the world are those who try to serve God and to be useful by doing hard work. Most of you will have to work for your living in one way or another; and this is one reason why your parents are training you to be active and useful, and to do things for yourselves instead of getting other people to do them for you. Learn to be contented little workers, and do what you are called to do with a smile upon your faces.

The Japanese are a very strange people. Listen to one of their fables :There was a man who cut stones out of a rock; his labour was heavy and he worked hard, but his wages were small and he was not contented, He sighed because his labour was so heavy, and he

cried, "Oh, that I were rich and could lie down upon my couch surrounded with curtains!" Then an angel cried out of heaven, "It shall be as you wish;" and the poor man became rich and rested on a beautiful couch hung round with red silk curtains. By-and-bye he was told that the king passed by, with horsemen before him and horsemen after him, and that a servant held over his royal master's head the golden "pajong," or umbrella, which is the sign of high rank. As soon as the rich man heard this he sighed and said, "No one holds over my head the golden umbrella. Oh! that I were a king!" Then an angel cried, "It shall be as you wish; " and he became a king, and horsemen went before him and horsemen followed after him, and the golden "pajong" was carried over his head. Anon the sun shone forth and his hot rays withered the grass. Then the king complained that the sun burnt his face and had more power than he had; therefore he was not satisfied. He sighed and cried, "I should like to be the sun!" Then an angel cried out of heaven, "It shall be as you wish ;" and the king became the sun, and sent his beams upwards and downwards, and on the right and left hand, withering grass and taking pleasure in his power to burn the faces of the great princes of the earth. Suddenly a vast cloud came between the sun and the earth, and the beams of the great light of day were turned back. He was angry that his power was thus resisted; so he complained that the cloud had more power than he; and, not contented yet, he sighed and wished to be the cloud. Then an angel said, "It shall be as you wish;" and he became the cloud and placed himself between the sun and the earth. Soon the grass became green again, and the cloud rained great drops and made all the rivers overflow their banks so that the flocks and herds were carried away. Glorying in his great strength, he poured his torrents on a huge rock, determined to move it; but the rock laughed at the storm-cloud.

At this the cloud was very angry, and sighed and cried, "Oh, that I were a rock!" Again an angel said, "It shall be as you wish ;" and the cloud became a great rock, which moved not in the storms when they were full of rage. At last there came to this rock, a man with a pick-axe, a hammer, and a sharp chisel, and cut stones out of the rock. Then said the rock, "I am weaker than this man; I wish I were a man!" Once more an angel said, "It shall be as you wish; " and he became a stone. cutter again, and laboured hard for small wages-a contented man!

This strange fable is meant to remind those who are discontented that they must not expect to be truly happy. Let us, therefore, fill our places of duty with a cheerful spirit; for if we do not learn this secret of being happy-we might be rich as the richest man in the world, great as the greatest king, and strong as the bright sun--but wherever we might go, and whatever we might have, we should carry with us the great cause of an unhappy life-a discontented spirit.

One reason why people are not more contented is in their pride. Children of this sort would like to have gay clothes and prettier looks and more clever ways, that they might attract more notice and get more praise. Now let me tell you another secret; if you are really good and love to do what is right-what you know is right-God will see it all and will be pleased with it; and people who know what is beautiful when they see it, will be sure to be pleased.

Modest people are loved most: hear another fable. The discontented violets murmured at their place among the flowers, and so they sent a message to the fairy queen, their mother, asking how long they were to lie down at the roots of the trees, covered with leaves, while other flowers grew tall and spread out their gay colours where everyone who passed by could see them. The fairy queen sent her chief servant on a drop of dew, to tell them how foolish they were; that their lowly place was safer for them, and that it was happier

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