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beneficial results. Sooner or later, we hope that England will act upon the lesson taught by her neighbours on the other side of the Channel."

IV. Another question of importance is that of having one system of the embossed type, alias one language, for reading and music, instead of the Babel forms now existing. The chief advantage of this would be to increase the literature, now very scarce, in each. The Parisian contains the largest collection of general reading. When visiting the beautiful building for the blind at Lausanne (the funds for which were provided by an English gentleman), the superintendent, Monsieur Herzou, told us his dilemma was, which of all the different systems of embossed type he should select for that institution, still in its infancy. He expressed his regret that there was not a common one for all nations. After long discussion on this knotty point, we advised him to adopt one of those possessing the Holy Scriptures, as being the fundamental source of all knowledge, trusting that in the future time the rest might follow. Unfortunately the Paris system does not contain the Word of God.

One chief means of raising the drooping spirits of the blind is to form Sunday Afternoon Meetings, for the purpose of studying the inspired Word of God, much on the same plan as the Christian Young Men's Association. From experience, we have found these meetings much more highly appreciated when conducted by the blind themselves; and in England, at all events, it would be difficult to find an assembly of blind where one or more are not instructed in spiritual subjects, and thus qualified to edify the ignorant. If a lecture be given, or a preached, on these occasions, a part of the time at least should be devoted to drawing out the minds of those addressed. Inquirers and antagonists to the Gospel truths of salvation may thus have an opportunity of being taught aright. Besides which, the tongue, although, beyond doubt, oftentimes an unruly member with us all, requires opportunity of exercise, more especially with the blind, being the only channel through which the imprisoned mind is set free. As we possess many more sources of amusement and mental gratification than they have, the prerogative of this one should, whenever practicable, be accorded to them.

Sunday meetings should be strictly devotional, any week day being more appropriate to the discussion of argumentative questions. Much forbearance should necessarily be shown to the casual opposer, and the questions or remarks of the ignorant gently dealt with. Here we would again caution those who work amongst the blind from allowing one single individual to form the Rules. Each proposition, after due consideration, should be decided by the votes of the assembly. In this

manner rules have been carried, and have been found to give general satisfaction, in London, Dublin, Brighton, and elsewhere. At the Sunday meetings, where the means can be found, it is well to provide a slight refreshment of tea, &c., as many could not conveniently return home and prepare their own meal before going to a place of worship. For these meetings are never intended to supersede attendance at church or chapel; but, on the contrary, to be a stepping-stone towards inducing idlers who never entered a church door to become true and steadfast members of the Church of Christ; and such have been the usual results of them. Another advantage resulting from this is the enjoyment of social intercourse, and the renewal or making acquaintance with each other-often a source of lasting gratification and mutual improvement. The tenour and influence of the Sunday meetings, and the genial cup of tea, tend much to check any temptation to bickering and petty jealousies, common, alas ! not only amongst the ignorant, but also amongst those who are wont to call themselves their superiors. One little illustration of the meeting of old friends will interest our readers.

A heart of stone would have melted to witness, as we once did, the recognition and greeting of two ci-devant grooms. Thirty years had elapsed since they last parted in a stable-yard, both then happy in the enjoyment of their eyesight, and little imagining under what a reverse of fortune would be their next rencontre. Our Sunday afternoon meetings brought them together again for the first time. It was a comfort to see the ray of pleasure this recognition elicited from their veiled orbs, which were still capable of giving expression to their inward thoughts. The term recognition, in relation to blind people, may raise a smile of incredulity on the lips of our readers; but we possess many ways of recognising one another besides through our two natural windows: the tone of voice, circumstances recounted, and especially the name, when mentioned, strikes the ear, and, a few interrogatories following, soon former friendships are revealed, to be prolonged yet for a little space upon earth.

Ere now, in these meetings, declared infidels, who entered them with the intention of opposing and ridiculing, have become converted, confessing this fact, and their full trust in God, as manifested in His Son Jesus Christ, upon their deathbeds rejoicing and giving glory to Him.

The limited space at our disposal prevents our entering into further details, but we trust some suggestions may have been offered calculated to elicit sympathy and to indicate the directions in which it may be most beneficially displayed; it is a subject in which we have been long and deeply interested.

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A PRAYER.

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved."

Lord, pardon me before I die,

That I at peace with thee may lie;

Then, though my body waste and wane,
Though all my joints be racked with pain,
Though life be loathsome, death a gain,
Yet will I not thy love arraign.

Lord, pardon me before I die,
That I at peace with thee may lie;
Then Hell may yawn, the Grave devour,
Gehenna's flames in torrents pour,
Legions of devils round me lower,
Yet will I not mistrust thy power.

Lord, pardon me before I die,
That I at peace with thee may lie;
Then shall I from the dust arise,
Then see thy glory with mine eyes,
Then, lifted up above the skies,

In that land rest where nothing dies.

P. P.

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer.

SIR,-As I read your article "On the Progressive Revelation of a Future State," which I did with much pleasure, I felt strongly tempted to offer a supplementary remark or two.

I believe that the reserve of Scripture with regard to the circumstantials of a future state of reward is highly suggestive of a most important doctrine: which is, that our weal or woe, happiness or misery, either here or hereafter, does not depend on any such circumstantials as detailed ideals of future bliss would present to the mind.

This doctrine is taught positively as well as negatively; and many passages of the Old Testament teach us plainly that our present and

future happiness consists in the presence of Jehovah-Jesus in the soul.

Thus (Gen. xv. 1) God says to Abraham, "Fear not, Abraham, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward." Again, in allusion to the inheritance of God's people, the Psalmist writes (xvi. 5), "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance."-Psalm lxxiii. contains words to the same effect (vv. 25 and 26). In the Psalms such language is very frequently met with. Numerous passages might be quoted from the New Testament also to prove that Jehovah-Jesus is Himself, and Himself alone, the joy and treasure of His people. Take, for instance, 1 Peter i. 8, 1 John iii. 2. Martin Luther quaintly says that he "had rather be in hell with Christ than in Heaven without Him."

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I feel very strongly that, in presenting pictures of future or present bliss, a great danger is incurred of drawing the mind away from the contemplation of Him "in whose presence there is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore,' and fixing it in blind idolatry upon a scene which is in itself a mere "broken cistern." And the wisdom displayed in the reserve of the Bible on the particulars of a future state of bliss I cannot but regard with the most profound admiration.

I enclose my card, and am, Sir,

Yours faithfully,

G. T.

P.S.-I would venture also to mention particularly those passages in the Revelations which speak of a future state of bliss. It is highly remarkable that God and the Lamb are spoken of as imparting by their very presence the most satisfying conceptions of bliss. (See, e.g., vii. 15, 17, and xxii. 3, 4, 5.)

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Life of William Ellis, Missionary to the South Seas and Madagascar. By his Son. London: Murray. 1873.-A very interesting account of a most eminent servant of Christ in his day and generation. In his lifetime Mr. Ellis was so copious and pleasing a writer that the public, even beyond the circle of the religious world, is tolerably familiar with the scenes he visited, and the toils which he underwent. It was therefore a difficult matter for his biographer to invest the chief portions of his father's career with fresh interest, or to communicate much beyond what he himself had already so well made known. Still he has handled this portion of his subject

in a modest and agreeable manner, which will furnish pleasant reading even to those who may in former years have felt delight in Mr. Ellis's own narratives. There was, moreover, much, both of the earlier and later career of the veteran Missionary, which was, in every sense of the word, most honourable to him, and which had hitherto remained untold. For this we are indebted to the filial reverence of his son, and the perusal of it has afforded us singular gratification. There is satisfaction in believing that Mr. Ellis was no solitary instance of a man who, by the faithful discharge of every social and moral duty, by unblemished holiness of life, the fruit of a living faith, has raised himself from the humblest station to one which made him the compeer of the foremost in England. But among these, "the salt of the earth," he holds a conspicuous place, and the study of the successive steps of his career, from the time when he earned his first sixpence by holding a gentleman's horse, and spent it in a book of travels, till the time when, much honoured and lamented, devout men carried him to his burial in long procession with public lamentation, will be amongst the most profitable reading of the kind we know. It is well known what an active interest Mr. Ellis took in the Madagascar question, which is now forming such an unpleasant and anxious topic. Those who wish to understand the question, and to estimate aright the wanton aggression now in contemplation upon the London Society's Missions, will find much most important information in this volume. It will be seen how arduous have been the struggles of Mr. Ellis and those associated with him to establish Christianity in Madagascar, and sympathy will be aroused for them. Not only had the violence of the heathen to be encountered, but full-blown Popery had to be struggled against. Our Consul there, who had been formerly connected with the Jesuit College at Réunion in the Mauritius, and had married a French lady, exerted himself to the utmost to thwart the Missionaries, and to promote the schemes of the French priests. It is highly honourable to Mr. Ellis that, despite all this virulent opposition, he was enabled to place the Christian Church in Madagascar on a satisfactory footing, and to conciliate the favour of the authorities. Very sad it is to think that, instead of peace and rest being allowed to enable those who have so long and so faithfully taught the Malagasies to consolidate and to purify their Churches by wholesome discipline and faithful teaching, rival claims are about to be asserted in the capital itself, which, if past experience is of any value, we feel assured can only introduce discord and confusion. Against this "gathering up the spoils of a field already won," the protest of Mr. Ellis is most clear and emphatic. trust it will not be forgotten by those who are zealous for the honour and dignity of the Church of England, now seriously compromised. A Handy Book for Visitors of the Poor in London. By C. B. P. Bosanquet, M.A. London: Longmans. 1874.-We have much pleasure in bringing to notice this very useful little publication, which will supply a need often felt. The writer is thoroughly well acquainted with the subject, and has condensed in it the result of much personal experience. From our own acquaintance with the

We

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