LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, ifjap ©opijriglji ^0 Shelf3\/.6.3 < ? . VV7 H (a UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A Like ok Service. A LIFE OF SERVICE, OR, Woman's Work in the Church. BY SARA MORRILL. "Small service is true service while it lasts: Of friends however humble scorn not one: The daisy, by the shadow which it casts, Protects the lingering dewdrop from the sun . " MILWAUKEE, WIS.! THE YOUNG CHURCHMAN CO. 1894 Copyright by THE YOUNG CHURCHMAN CO. : 1893. ^ Library P F Congress Press of Houtkamp & Cankon, milwaukee, wis. Prefatory Note. These letters to a friend who asked some directions about Church work, appeared some years ago in a religious paper, and are reprinted by request. S. M. Dedicated TO MRS. TELFAIR HODGSON, OF Skwanee, Tenn., who gives to us a daily illustration of \ life of consecrated SERVICE. S. M. Sewavee, Tenn.<\ July, 1893. j CONTENTS. Letter i. Letter ii. Letter iii. Letter iv. Letter v. Letter vi. Letter vii. Letter viii. Letter ix. Letter x. Letter xi. Letter xii. Letter xiii. Letter xiv. Letter xv. Letter xvi. Letter xvii. Letter xviii. Letter xix. Motives, System, Prayer. Selection, The Sunday School, The Sunday School, Lent. Sorrow, The Mothers' Mission, The Sewing School. Visiting the Poor, Almsgiving, Culture, Sensitiveness, Controversy, Right Judgment, The Bible Class, Manners. Little Things, PAGE 9 17 21 37 48 60 74 88 102 1 12 117 124 '131 146 J 53 160 168 177 cS CONTENTS. Letter xx. Letter xxi. Letter xxii. Letter xxiii. Letter xxiv. Letter xxv. I ,etter xxvi. Letter xxvii. Letter xxviii. Letter xxix. Letter xxx. Lettei xxxi. Letter xxxii. Obedience, The Care of the Sick, Health, Travelling, Care, Dress, Delicacy, Conversation, Gossip, Mistakes, The Study of the Bible, Contentment, Gratitude, PAGE 185 193 203 211 221 229 23* 247 258 268 278 287 297 A LIFE OF SERVICE, Woman's Woek in the Chuech. LETTER I MOTIVES. "In a service which Thy will appoints There are no bonds for me; For my inmost heart is taught the Truth That makes Thy children free; And a life of self-renouncing love Is a life of liberty." A. L. Waring. Y Deae L : I have not been unmind- ful of my promise to give you some thoughts and directions about Church work, but I have been thus tardy in its fulfilment because there has been so much that is good and true written upon the subject, that I can only repeat the substance of what wiser people have said before. 10 A LIFE OF SERVICE. There is nothing new under the sun. "'The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done" to the end of time. I am particularly reminded of these words of Solomon just now, because on referring to some pages I had ready for you, I found that St. Augustine, St. Francis de Sales and Fenelon have given substantially the same directions. So we will go back further even than these old worthies, to the Sacred Book from which, studied under the enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit, they had their wonderful wisdom. First, then, as to the motive that should impel you to a more thorough consecration of yourself to the service of God: " Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus;" because "Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us." Keep this continually in mind, and let the thought of the hymn we learned in childhood be the abiding spirit of your life: "In ail his daily duties He diligent must be, And say, whate'er I do, O Lord, I do it unto Thee." MOTIVES. 11 Acting thus from the highest motives, you will have a calmness and elevation of thought and mind that will lift you above many of the little annoyances that will constantly beset you. Let no pressure, then, of occupation crowd from your mind the thought that God's glory is your ruling motive. Make the words of the invocation in the Office for the Holy Communion the constant expression of your heart: "And here we offer and present unto Thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reason- able, holy and living sacrifice unto Thee.*' To come up to the full stature of the perfect man in Christ Jesus, we must love as He loved — always, everywhere and everybody. Wherever a human heart beats there is sin, and, therefore,, suffering. To teach the guilty one the penalty and the remedy for his sin and to comfort the suffering, is the Christian's high duty, and the limit to it is simply the capacity God has given us. Study your own nature and see if you do not put this limit too low. Let each of us ask ourselves the question: "What am I doing for the Master?*' Am I using every power in His 12 A LIFE OF SERVICE. service, and can it be said of me as of the penitent woman in the Gospel, who bathed His sacred feet with her tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head, "Her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much?" If love, then, be the ruling principle of our lives, we will live in daily and hourly dependence upon God, the source of all love, asking every morning in childlike simplicity, "Lord what wouldst Thou have me do this day?" Accept every little incident, accident, interruption, vexation and duty as coming from a Father's hand and believe that even though we mourn over "A thousand failures, what are these In the sight of the One All Perfect, Who, whether man fails in work or succeeds, Builds surely, solemn'y up from our broken days and deeds The infinite purpose of Time." But, you may say, the necessity of my daily life leaves me little leisure for what is distinct- ively called "Church work." The most successful workers in a womanly sphere I have ever seen have been busy wives and mothers, who cared for their large families, managed small incomes to meet great demands, and yet MOTIVES. 13 always bad a heart to love and a hand to help God's poor. Ours is a day of boundless activity: the whole Christian world is up and doing, and all over this fair land of ours there are centres of work whose influence is felt to its remotest borders. Wise men are perfecting plans and systematis- ing efforts whose spasmodic character in the past has interfered with their success. Perhaps a large town offers the best field to observe the faithful laborer at his post. In a great city the attractions of outside objects are so numerous that it is hard to see. amid the whirl of modern life, where time can be found and the quietness of spirit attained that is needed. Yet. doubtless the very effort demanded to resist these attractions strengthens the character and makes the work more efficient, if in the parish to which you belong the clergy live in daily remembrance of their ordination vows and "search for the sick, poor and impotent people." and teach the flock committed to their care with all diligence to do the same. 14 A LIFE OF SERVICE. Under the guidance of a faithful rector you will soon have such a field of duty assigned to you as will fill the portion of time you decide you can devote to outside work. If you have grown up under the eye of your rector, he will probably know even better than you do your- self, for what department of service you are most fitted. Some have unusual gifts for teaching — a gentleness, patience, enthusiasm and tact that are brought out most fully in the Sunday and parish schools. For a visitor among the poor, after a deep love and reverence for humanity, under all the forms that sorrow and suffering may stamp upon it, the qualities most requisite are sound common sense, cheerfulness, courage and per- severance. Good judgment, in many cases, is a natural gift, but it may be cultivated and acquired by constant observation and attention to the lessons taught by experience. You will daily feel the need of this, and remember that its Source is ever open to you. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights." "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask MOTIVES. 15 of God. that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given unto him." Incorporate in your daily prayer a special one like the Collect for Whitsun Day: "Grant us by the same spirit to have a right judgment in all things." Be always and everywhere a learner; think carefully in each case of failure where you might have done better, and, finding the cause avoid it in future. Observe the daily conduct of the most successful people you meet, and see why they succeed where so many fail. In the business world certain qualities are essential to prosperity, and success is the reward of the judicious, earnest, untiring and faithful seeker, — not the chance prize of the fortunate. Many cannot prosper because from ignorance, indo- lence, carelessness in details, want of judgment, or honesty; they do not deserve to do so. If you are naturally of an excitable tempera- ment, study by habitual discipline to control it. One of the most effectual methods of doing this is to exercise rigid supervision over your speech. Be very careful of your facts in making any 16 A LIFE OF SERVICE. statement, and, above all, never impute wrong motives to others. To obey the Scriptural injunction and "pray without ceasing," we must live always in a spirit of prayer, so that everything will direct our hearts to Him who heareth prayer. When you are tempted to evil speaking, or to rash or angry words, ask God to help you, and the heart- felt petition will restore your self-control. If your motive is pure, you will avoid many occasions in which the seeker after human praise or earthly reward will meet only disappointment and chagrin. LETTEE II. SYSTEM. "Our many deeds, the thoughts that we have thought. They go out from us thronging every hour, And in them all is folded up a power That on the earth will move them to and fro; And mighty are the marvels they have wrought In hearts they know not, and may never know." F. W. Faber. ^EXT to the motives that impel us to the -£jL Master's service, and the spirit in which we work, the most important thing is the order and regularity that should characterize our efforts. Undoubtedly there is much good done in a scrambling, uncertain fashion, because impulsive people have a dash about them that carries them over many obstacles. When these impulses are purified by the grace of God they are very effectual, for genuine feeling is always influential, and earnestness is a mighty power. But when it submits meekly 18 A LIFE OF SERVICE. to rules, and humbly lays aside wilfulness at the foot of the cross, this influence and power is increased tenfold. "Order is Heaven's first law" was the motto in an old fashioned school room some of us well remember; and looking back to the presiding spirit of those bright days, we have a happy instance of chastened impetuosity and restrained vehemence of character, that aroused our enthusiastic affection; and even now the recollection animates us to imitation. It is well to recall such friends; and when they have passed up higher into other chambers of our Father's "many mansions," and find rest where labour never wearies, let us recount their virtues, and find comfort and patience from their blessed example. You kindly tell me, dear L , to be as "discursive" as I please; and as I only hope to suggest to you, from perhaps a larger experience rules that have seemed to me essential to success in any branch of Church work, I think it is well to recall memories of this faithful labourer in the vineyard of the Lord, who has just laid her earthly armor by. Circumstances prevented SYSTEM. 19 me from placing a funeral wreath upon her grave, but I thought of the saying of Jean Paul: "The fairest funeral wreath we can offer upon the cold tomb of the departed is to imitate their good deeds.** The battle of life is such a fierce struggle to some ardent natures, and their eagerness to rush into the conflict often seems to send them there "With their forces all unmarshaled. With their weapons all undrawn," aud cooler, quieter natures find victory where they seem to meet only ignominious defeat. Such was our dear old friend and teacher when, in the first flush of youthful courage, she heeded not the many and heavy burdens that Providence early laid upon her, but began her life-long war against the world, the flesh and the devil. In many and sore trials, in seemingly crushing defeats, her constant reliance upon the tender mercy that watched over the battle never failed, for she had that highest triumph of faith— 'The instinct that can tell That God is on the field when He Is most invisible." 20 A LIFE OF SEEVICE. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him," was the language of her heart and lips. Habitual self -discipline and the sweetness of Christ's love diffused over her heart and life, at last brought outward calmness and a deep inward peace, which was that "which passeth all understanding." This enabled her to be "troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken: cast down, but not destroyed. 1 ' It is well to learn the happy secret of such a life, the source of such a marvellous strength made perfect in weakness. It was simply a life "Hid with Christ in God" and the never failing spring of love, joy and guidance which flows from the Rock of Ages when touched by the rod of prayer. "And we also bless Thy Holy Name for all Thy servants departed this life in Thy faith and fear; beseeching Thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we maybe partakers of Thy heavenly Kingdom. " "Pray without ceasing," because in this way alone w r e can supply our weakness from Christ's strength, our ignorance from His wisdom, and SYSTEM. 21 our blindness from His light. Not to be always on our knees to the neglect of pressing duties, not to have books of devotion always in our hands, but to have the spirit of prayer always in our hearts, and "casting down imaginations in every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." When this is done, all our lives will be moulded and guided by the power of prayer and the Apostolic iDrecept obeyed. Next to prayer, system seems to be most essential to success in any undertaking. Order your whole conduct by strict rules; anticipate emergencies and provide beforehand for every duty. A towering intellect, a mighty genius may perhaps dispense with such discipline, though history proves that when they do. mental, physical or spiritual wreck is often the consequence. But persons of ordinary minds and usual education find untold help from a systematic preparation for the chances and changes of this mortal life. Study the works of the best of men and see the rules that guided them, and form from them directions for self-government. Particularly ZZ A LIFE OF SERVICE. would I recommend those wonderful books of A\Kempis, "The Imitation of Christ" and "The SouPs Soliloquy/ 1 Read them constantly, but do not be discouraged because their standard seems to you impossibly high. Follow the direction of St. Francis de Sales where he says: "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but in- stantly set about remedying them; every day begin the task anew. The best method for attaining to Christian perfection is to be aware that you have not reached it, and never be weary of recommencing. For, in the first place, how can you patiently bear your brother's burden if you will not bear your own?" Fill your mind with such thoughts, and they will come to you in times of trial like an. angel's voice and throw light on many a dark- ened way. Sensitive people with strong feelings know how difficult it is to restrain expressions when unusually moved to indignation, and how much harm is done by vehemence even when the emotion is a right one. Think, in such a case, of this rule of de Sales: "Be always as SYSTEM. 28 mild as you # can: a spoonful of honey attracts more flies than a barrel of vinegar." If you must fall into any extreme, let it be on the side of gentleness. The human mind is so construct- ed that it resists vigor and yields to softness. A mild word quenches anger as water quenches the rage of the fire, and by benignity any soil may be rendered fruitful. "Truth, uttered with courtesy, is heaping coals of fire on the head, or rather, throwing roses in the face." Examine yourself daily as to whether you have failed in obedience to your self-chosen rules, as well as in the directions given by those in authority over you. Failure in the latter will often bring disorder into many well arranged plans, but the former may be known only to yourself and your God. Yet the result of disobedience will be none the less positive upon your own spiritual growth, as well as your general efficiency. "Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all. but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." To do this, every direction of St. Paul to the Christian athlete must be strictly observed. To be "temperate in all things." "to 24 A LIFE OF SERVICE. keep under my body and bring it into subjec- tion/' "f orgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before,'" Redeeming the time,*' and "putting on the whole armour of God.*" Remember always, the spirit in which we work is far more important than the work itself, and good actions are often of little service to the doer or the recipient because marred by self-seeking egotism and boastfulness. "Except ye be converted and become as little children ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.** The simplicity, the purity of childhood, must come back to world-worn hearts before they can be faithful labourers in the vineyard of the Lord. I recollect being greatly startled at the declaration of an aged clergyman, in conversing of a church that had recently been consecrated in a rural neighbourhood. It was the gift of one person, and of fair proportions, and costly mate- rial. It stood on the hill top, beautiful for situa- tion, and at evening its sweet chime of bells rang out pleasantly on the still air. Beneath the Chancel window w r as the inscription, "To the SYSTEM. 25 Glory of God and in pious memory of E. B.*' My old friend objected to this, saying, "Angels work to the glory of God. but men never." I asked what then he supposed the ruling motive in the builder of this church. He answered that "men's motives were always so mixed that it was difficult to say which predominated: the love of human praise, to increase the value of neighbouring property, to elevate the condition of the people about, and give the blessing of the Church's minis- trations to a community where they were unknown.*" This was in days when I thought years only should speak and age meant always wisdom, but I know now that there are thous- ands of humble Christians every where, who have heeded the injunction. "O learn to scorn the praise of men! learn to lose with God," and who are quietly, prayerfully, and in ways almost unknown of men. living to the glory of God. And to the credit of the age be it said, that there are men in high position and of great 26 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. wealth, who say with Gregory Nazianzen: "If I have any possessions, health, credit, learning, this is all the contentment I have of them, that I have somewhat I may despise for Christ, who is totas desiderabilis, et totum desiderabile" (the all desirable one, the everything desirable ). But the vehemence of my old friend made a strong impression and taught me the great watchfulness required to keep our hearts simple and our motives pure. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven/' Jeremy Taylor says that we who pray thus "must remember that the angels do whatsoever is commanded them, and go wherever they are sent, and refuse no circumstances, and if their employment be crossed by a higher decree, they sit down in peace and rejoice in the event.'* LETTER III. PRAYER. Prayer blots out sins, repels temptations, quenches persecutions, comforts the desponding, blesses the high minded, guides the wan lerers, calms the billows, feeds the poor, directs the rich, raises the fallen, holds up the falling, preserves them that stand. Tertullian. 0XE of the first rules for a religious life must be the observance of set times for private devotion, and to obtain the leisure for this it will be necessary for you to become an early riser. If your health is even tolerably good, you will find no difficulty in forming a habit of this kind, and you will be astonished to discover how much order and regularity it will enable you to intro- duce into your life. One hour before breakfast. in the quiet and cool of the early morning given to prayer and devotional reading, will leave its impress upon the rest of the day. and give you 28 A LIFE OF SERVICE. strength for the duties and temptations it will bring you. If you have access to many books, you will find in the early Fathers of the Church, and in some of the old English divines, an unfailing- treasury of devotion. Make from them a manu- script book of prayers, and copy into it any petition that seems to express your soul's particular needs. Bishop Andrewes' and Jeremy Taylor's works are full of devout thoughts, and Fenelon, Pascal and Massillon will give you many themes for devotional musing. Human hearts are the same in all ages and have the same hopes and fears, the same desires and temptations, and you will find in the quaint expressions and forcible language of these old writers a perpetual freshness that rivets the attention and touches the heart. If your actions and duties are mainly con- trolled by others, you will generally be able to secure leisure for your devotions by this early rising, when you cannot in any other way, for most people have to take up the thread of life immediately after the morning meal is over, and PBAYEB. 29 need the calmness and strength they have found in prayer, at once. If it is your happy lot to live in a parish where Daily Morning and Evening Prayer is said, try and arrange your business to attend as often as possible. If your family is large, at least send one representative to each service. One of the pleasantest signs of the times is the largely increased attendance in parishes where this has been a rule for many years, and steady growth in the spiritual life is noticeable among those who avail themselves of this means of grace. But it requires much carefulness in the man- agement of duties to give the leisure for this, and you must make no one the sufferer by your absence from home. In Advent and Lent, you will find large families in constant attendance upon Daily Prayer, without interfering with those systematic arrangements which conduce so much to the peace and happiness of daily life. If you are so unfortunate as to live in an irreligious atmosphere, you will find every step in your path of duty requires the utmost circum- spection. Obey the injunction of one of the early Fathers, and "strive to live so that our 30 A LIFE OF SERVICE. Master may be remembered when you are seen," but avoid all unnecessary speech about your personal Christian duty. Above all, make no parade of elaborate plans of what you intend to do and sacrifice. "Ever on earth men block out Babels to build Babylons," but it is none the less unpleasant to have unkindly eyes watching to see how soon these much-talked of purposes will be forgotten, or altogether fail. Form your plans with delib- eration, but say very little about them, save to those whose consent and advice is essential to their fulfilment. Beware of open asceticism and withdrawing yourself wholly from the pleas- ures and amusements of others. You will find many little ways of denying yourself and exer- cising strict self-discipline without attracting attention. If you are obliged to live among people who are openly opposed to religion, you must be constantly watchful lest you imbibe something of their spirit, or allow their opinions to influence you unduly. You have doubtless been shocked to hear expressions that seemed to you profane from the lips of ladies whom you know to be refined and PRAYER. 3] religious. I have heard them quote the opinions of members of their families about Christian peoj3le and speak of the lives of the Saints of old. the Bible and the Church, in a manner that is truly painful to devout minds. Exclamations that verge on impiety, too. are heard in such families. "Goodness. Gracious!" ; 'Good Fath- er!'* and other forms of mentioning the Deity carelessly, come within the scope of the Third Commandment, and are not only unrefined, but profane. The only possible excuse for this is that many women have the unreflecting habit of repeating what they hear, scarcely conscious how gross and offensive the sentiments of their irreligious friends are. from being accustomed to their expression. One witty man, with no fear of God before his eyes to restrain him from aiming his arrows at sacred themes, will some- times affect a whole community, and his influ- ence will penetrate to circles, from which he himself would be excluded, by the repetitions and comments of admiring relatives. The quaintness to modern ears of many old Saxon words used in the Bible, makes it peril- ously easy to point jests from them. Avoid this 32 A LIFE OF SERVICE. most scrupulously, for by repeating such things you deepen the impression they make on your mind, or perhaps fasten a ridiculous association with sacred words in a youthful memory, from which you can never erase it. Few enemies more effectually disturb our peace than such unhallowed jests. They will, by the ready devices of the great enemy of souls, recur to our thoughts in our most holy moments, and our hours of prayer and devout meditations will often be marred by the efforts we are obliged to make for their banishment. If your sense of the humorous is strong, you must particularly beware of the society and works of those who indulge in such a pernicious habit. If it is impossible for you to avoid their company, try and close your ears to their con- versation, do not touch their books, and above all, never draw attention to their profane wit' or repeat it to others. The early Christians were accustomed to observe, beside the morning and evening, three particular hours of the day for devotion, and many persons find comfort in still recalling them by prayer. The third hour, or nine o'clock in PKAYEE. 33 the morning, at which time the Holy Ghost came down, the sixth, or noon, when our Blessed Lord was crucified, and the ninth, or three in the aftenoon, when — "The strife Long and sharp was ended, Gently to His Father's hands, He His soul commended." David said: "In the evening and morning and at noonday I will pray and that instantly, and He shall hear my voice." and "Seven times a day do I praise Thee, because of Thy righteous judgments. " Such was his holy zeal and fervor that he wrote, "Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy word,'' and "at midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee." Surely we will find help and consola tion in imitating his example. When the clock strikes, repeat some short petition, as — ; *Be with me now and at the hour of my death," and recall some promise or admonition from Holy Writ for your comfort and guidance. In this way your life will be guarded and your conver- sation moulded by prayer. Accustom yourself to observing the holy seasons appointed by the Church in private as 34 A LIFE OF SERVICE. well as in public, and dwell much upon the cen- tral facts whose truths are taught particularly there. As I write, it is the Epiphany season, and the humanity of our Blessed Lord is set forth; each w T eek a new manifestation being brought from the holy gospel for our learning. The leading of a star led the wise men from the East to w- orship the , new T -born King, and falling in their wisdom humbly at His feet, they offered gold for His royalty, frankincense for His priesthood, and myrrh for His humanity. See that you follow T their example, and give always of your best to the Lord; bring an offer- ing whenever you go to worship at His feet, and remember His fellow feeling for those who w T ith Him drink of "the bitter myrrh of grief." At this time, too, learn from the example of the holy Simeon and the devout Anna, who "departed not from the Temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day," "wait- ing for the consolation of Israel," how the faith- ful performance of daily duty is rewarded. The Lord whom they sought, came suddenly to His temple, and their aged eyes saw 7 His salvation — "a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of PRAYER. 35 Thy people Israel." And now the Holy Church throughout all the world sings of Simeon's glad- ness in the Xioic Dim litis, and many share it when after years of faithful service and patient waiting- the Lord grants them the desire of their hearts, and they are ready to "depart in peace." Each season and festival appointed by the Church will bring you its own lesson, and it is well to learn it humbly and endeavor to practice it at once. Teach your scholars in the Sunday and parish schools, and all young people who come under your influence, to mark the appointed days, and endeavor to make each of them recognize their beauty and importance. But beware of thinking that because you observe them it gives you any claims to superior sanctity: rather consider it a blessed privilege God has given you in placing yon where you can do so. and pray that this same blessing may be given to others. Let the very fact of your possessing it make you humble. "He that regardeth the day. regardeth it unto the Lord.*' and this should make you very careful not to judge those who "regard it not." Faber says: 36 A LIFE OF SERVICE. "The Church, the Sacraments, the Faith, Their uphill journey take; Lose here, what there they gain, and if We lean upon them break." Many things are wonderful helps to a life of holiness, but in using them we must not forget the old Father who wrote seventeen hundred years ago — "Lean upon Christ; He will not withdraw to let you fall.** LETTEK IV. SELECTION. God is master of the scenes; we must not choose which part we shall act; it concerns us only to he careful that we do it well. Jeremy Taylor. Let him who gropes painfully in darkness or uncer- tain light, and prays vehemently that the dawn may ripen into day, lay this other precept well to heart, which was to me of incalculable service. Do the duty which lies nearest thee, which thoa knowest to be a duty; thy second duty will already become clearer. Sartor Resartfs. OV suggest that I should write more parti c- L ularly of each branch of what is distinct- ively called "Church Work.'' that you may decide which is your especial field, and you speak of the difficulty which the decision involves. I think if you will reflect upon the wise sayings of good Bishop Taylor and the quaint utterances of Carlyle, you will learn more wisdom than from any hints of mine. Please remember, in giving them. I do not claim the least originality, but can only say each cu 38 A LIFE OF SERVICE. thought has been fully tried in real plans and places, and each suggestion has been taught by experience. In relation to forming plans it is very important to observe this rule, and not do so from theory merely. Build, if jjossible, on old foundations, for while it is easy to sit in a comfortable study and put upon paper pleasant dreams for the management of others, the world can never be governed thus. Every item must be submitted to the stern test of actual proof, and you can never calculate the amount of force required to produce a certain effect until you know the exact resistance that is to be over- come. Plans, seemingly poor ones, often work better than some appearing much fairer, that have never been tried. If you go to a new place and find a parish working under what you judge to be great defects of organization, do not be hasty in condemning them or proposing change. Try faithfully what can be done in the old ways before proposing alterations. If these are really based upon radical errors, if you are quick and observant, you can find many little SELECTION. 39 methods of introducing reforms without excit- ing enmity. Be very careful always in speaking of any good work that proceeds from right motives, even if it seems to you faulty in design and imperfect in execution. Carelessness, disobedience and hasty yielding to impulse will bring confusion into the best arranged schemes, while painstaking faithfulness in little things and constant, persevering and prayerful efforts will bring good out of evil. In every parish where you are likely to live, you will find a Sunday School, and your educa- tion fits you to take part in it. Do not wait to be asked, but at once offer your services to the rector, or superintendent. If you are in a new home, it is always best to bring a letter from your former rector which you should immedi- ately present. Congregations in towns and cities fluctuate so constantly that it is impossi- ble for you at once to begin your true course of duty in a strange place without you make yourself known to the proper authorities. Never allow yourself to cherish any hurt feeling because you have not been asked to join in any good work. Remember that it is God's 40 A LIFE OF SERVICE. work, and the motive that prompts you to engage in it, is the love of His Son Jesus; it is a blessed privilege to be allowed to take the least part in building up His Kingdom, and "in the royal galley of divine love there is no force, the rowers are all volunteers." If there should be no vacant class at once, be content to take temporary charge of any whose teacher may be absent, and throw your heart into this work just as much as if it was your own particular class. It is undoubtedly pleasanter and better to have one regular set of children whose character and dispositions you may study and adapt your teachings to their individual capacities, and if you are to remain for any length of time in one place, you should look forward to this. Always prepare yourself carefully for your instruction, and study the whole lesson faithfully. The arrangement of the Sundays in the Christian year brings each fact in the life of our Blessed Lord into prominence, and each of the doctrines of the "faith once delivered to the saints. 1 ' You must yourself steadfastly believe in these facts and doctrines, not with a languid SELECTION. 41 aequiescense, but with the hearty earnestness that comes with the fall conviction of their truth. Unless you do so, I do not think it is well for you to attempt to teach others. If in hours of despondency, doubts suggested by the great enemy of souls, come into your mind, do not cherish them, but drive them out by prayer and action. Do not attempt to reason them or bring forward arguments, but only pray. In calmer hours, when the darkness has passed, examine the foundation of your faith and "prove all things," "holding fast to that which is good." Study what the wisest and best of men have written in explanation of the holy mysteries of the Word of God, and be assured that as one of them has said, to take it "always as our directory, is to walk upon a path which, whether rugged or smooth, overshadowed or illuminated, shall bring us at length to immortality and joy." One other thought from "Saturday Evening," may be of service to you here: "Now 7 we need wish, if rightly minded, for nothing more (when once convinced that the Bible is from God) 42 A LIFE OF SERVICE. than to rest quietly upon its implicit disregard of the doubts which so much disturb our peace. For we may safely infer from the manifest tranquillity of the messengers from Heaven that all is well, if looked upon from a point suffi- ciently high. Just as when a father, stationed on an eminence, is watching the progress of his sons through a labyrinth. They may confi- dently presume their course is a right one, so long as they see a cheerful smile on his face." The next requisite for the faithful teaching of a class in Sunday School, after careful prepa- ration and full convictions of the truths to be taught, is punctuality. Unless you can reason- ably expect to be able to fulfil this requirement, it is hardly worth while for you to take charge of a regular class. If others have the direction of your affairs, so that you cannot be present when the school opens, you had better select some other field for usefulness, for two or three unfaithful teachers in this respect will bring an element of confusion and disorder into a whole school. Who cannnot recall the sadly familiar spectacle of a large class whispering, crowding, SELECTION. 43 playing tricks upon other classes near, throwing the books about, scraping their feet, and by many annoying ways showing to the whole school the absence of their teacher. One insubordinate regiment will sometimes affect a whole army, and it is the same in all bodies where numbers render discipline essen- tial. I have heard teachers excuse themselves by saying. "But I was only absent from the oi^ening devotions, and was ready to begin teaching at the usual hour." Think what disrespect is implied in such a plea. Before engaging in the deeply important work of training young minds and hearts to love and serve their God. you ask His blessing upon your labors, you confess your infirmities, you ask His assistance, and you render your tribute of praise and thanksgiving. Yet you stay away yourself, not perhaps wilfully, but because you have not made the careful prepara- tion to be punctual, that, if you live among indifferent people, the effort to be so requires. Let your dress be more simple, if possible, on Sundays than other days, so that no unusual time may be consumed in the duties of the 44 A LIFE OF SERVICE. toilet. Be always neat and tasteful in apparel, but particularly upon the Lord's Day avoid all extravagances of dress and trinkets. T have seen a class of girls in Sunday School so busily engaged in counting the bangles that hung from their teacher's wrist, or so intently studying her flounces or "knife pleatings," that they could not attend to her instructions. You may wear these things with little thought or self-consciousness about their becomingness, but it is often a snare to girls in an humbler station in life, and they, if spoken to upon the subject, will justify their own imita- tions by saying, "My Sunday School teacher wears them." It is said to be peculiarly an American inelegance to appear in gay, unsuitable clothing at church; and doubtless, particularly in the country, you have seen costumes that were more fitted for the ball-room and theatre than the sanctuary. Long streamers of brilliantly tinted ribbons and fluttering laces will come floating up the aisles during the service in a way very distracting to the devout worshipper, SELECTION. ±0 and the want of punctuality must often be attribu- ted to the time necessary for th e elaborate arrange- ments. If your taste allows you. wear them at other times. If you wish to be a successful teacher in the Sunday School, it will be cer- tainly best to lay them aside while engaged in your duties there. Endeavor to be in your place at least a few minutes before the hour of the opening services, that you may exchange quiet greetings with your scholars, inquire for their parents, or relatives, and receive any little confidence they may like to give you. See that each one has his Prayer Book and Hymnal, with the Collect for the Sunday and the Psalter for the day marked, so as to be found readily in the service. If a new scholar should be present, find out his name and residence that you may speedily call upon him in his own house. Improve these moments also by enjoining upon the scholars strict attention and reverence during the reading of the Gospel and Lessons, and full responses in the Psalter, Prayers and Creeds. Try to avoid reproof while the service is going on. by this advice before-hand, and be always yourself truly 46 A LIFE OF SERVICE. and unaffectedly reverent in manner and re- sponse. The affection of children is seldom hard to gain; love them so much that they will be sure to love you in return, and manifest your regard by thoughtful attention to their interest and comfort. Sympathize with their joys and sorrows, and let them fully understand that their Sunday School teacher is always and everywhere their friend. Avoid a light, flippant manner in addressing them, and ask any little favour in a polite and respectful way, such as you would use to the child of an acquaintance. Give as few commands as possible, but let it be distinctly understood that they must be immediately obeyed. Put little matters into the form of a request, and be sure to make it rather in the light of a personal favor than the mandate of a superior. Grave, serious offences against the laws of the school must be put down at once, and by being very careful not to overstrain your authority by peremptorily insisting upon trifling arrange- ments, you will be able to exert it effectually when the case requires. Make large allowances for the high spirits of youth, and the mischief SELECTION. 47 that seems inherent in most children, and be sparing of reproof for minor offences. In speaking of your class to others, be very careful of the terms you apply to them, and do not readily believe evil of them except -upon the best of evidence. I heard a young lady con- sulting a friend about the best way of managing a disorderly class, and she spoke of the boys who composed it as "the little wretches." ''the savages."" and "the outrageous young ones.*" I could not help thinking that the first step in their reformation would have to be taken by the teacher herself, in elevating her thoughts and refining her language, as well as in learning the true dignity and importance of training the young for the service of God. Everywhere we find untaught, untrained children, and we should heed the voice with which they cry to us. saying — "Give us light amid our darkness. Let us know the good from ill, Hate us not for all our blindness, Lead us, love us, show us kindness, You may make us what you will. '•We shall be whate'er you make us. Make us wise and make us good. Make us strong for times of trial, Teach us temperance, self-denial, Patience, kindness, fortitude." LETTER V, THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. "Up to me sweet childhood looketh, Heart and mind and soul awake, Teach me of Thy ways, oh Father, For sweet childhood's sake. <# In their young hearts soit and tender, Guide my hands good seed to sow, That its blossoming may praise Thee Wheresoe'er they go." 75TOU have doubtless heard it said repeatedly £-*- that the Sunday School, upon which so much time, money, strength and labour are expended, is after all a failure, and that the old- fashioned way of teaching children before Robert Raik.es' day is best. Let us go back, say a hundred years, and examine the old paths in which our fathers walked, and see in what their superiority consisted. The exhortation to sponsors, after baptism, was the same then as now, and they were reminded that it was "their parts and duties to THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 49 see that this infant be taught, as soon as he shall be able to learn, what a solemn vow. promise and profession he hath here made, and that ye shall call upon him to hear sermons, and chiefly, ye shall provide that he may learn the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, in the vulgar tongue, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health. " Confirmation was solemnly enjoined as soon as he was "further instructed in the Church Catechism set forth for that purpose." The first rubric after the Catechism was. "The curate of every parish shall diligently, upon Sunday and holy days, after the Second Lesson at Evening Prayer, openly, in the church, instruct and examine so many children of the parish sent unto him as he shall think conveni- ent, in some part of this Catechism." "And all fathers, mothers, masters, and dames shall cause their children, servants and arjprentices (which have not learned their Catechism), to come to church at the time appointed, and obediently to hear, and be ordered by the curate, until such time as they have learned all that is here appointed for them 50 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. to learn." If these provisions had been faith- fully carried out, I cannot see that anything was left to be desired in the education of children in Christian duty. In families of education and standing, particularly in the State of Virginia, this was often done, and when the parish church was at too great a distance for the children and servants to attend there regularly, the clergyman would go from house to house, and assembling them, often in the spacious hall, would carry out the spirit, if not the letter, of the old rubric. Or, if the incumbent from age or infirmity was unequal to this, the master, and in many cases the mistress, would call together the children and the servants and teach them the Catechism. You occasionally come upon traces of this old fashion in the reverent demeanor of the children of those who were thus taught. I read in my childhood to an old colored woman, who, although bent with age and disease, would rise from her seat and bow reverently at the Most Holy Name; and she did not consider that any religious instruction THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 51 given to her was complete, until she had said, "my belief." as "old Mistis" had taught her to do. I was struck with the intelligence and understanding of the Catechism shown in conversation by a middle-aged colored woman not long since, and asked her where she had learned it. She said, "my grandmother was paralyzed for years before her death, but had all of her faculties of mind. She used to make us children stand round her bed. every Sunday evening, and say the Catechism. She was Lady Washington's maid, and her mistress taught all her servants to say the Catechism perfectly, and grandmother never forgot it." So the echo of a woman's voice once singing through the halls of Mt. Vernon, has not died out yet: may that from our Sunday Schools be as lasting! But these happy homes began to be the exception rather than the rule. Through the increase of population and change in the laws, the growth of towns, and relaxing of family discipline, hundreds of children were growing up outside of the Christian fold. Denial of the holy rite of Baptism to infants became very common, and people beo-an to 52 A LIFE OF SERVICE. carp at and criticise the words of the Prayer Book, even where they followed most closely those of the Bible. Parents and sponsors were often careless of their duties and seemingly forgetful of their solemn promises. Then came the Sunday School, at first to gather in the untaught and neglected children from the streets, but soon embracing all the young members of the con- gregation, until it is rare to find, in towns of moderate size, native-born people who have not been brought under the influence of these schools. Statistics say that about two-thirds of the convicts (not foreigners) in our penitentia- ries have been Sunday School scholars at some time in their lives. Do not think that this is in the least an argument against Sunday Schools; it is only a picture of the world and of the Church every- where. The wheat and the tares grow together until the time of the harvest, and the same soil, air, rain and sunshine nourish both. One draws from them kindly forces and healthy nutriment, the other noxious gases and poisonous juices, and everywhere in the mysterious economy of THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 53 nature, the principles of life and death are side by side. To select and train the one, and so change the nature or provide an antidote for the other. is the task given to man's judgment, and its exercise requires the employment and cultiva- tion of all his faculties. Each Sunday School is a miniature world, and those whose high vocation it is to teach there, cannot be too fully impressed with the dignity and importance of their work. "What though unmarked the happy workman toil, And break unthanked of man, the stubborn clod, It is enough, for sacred is the soil, Dear are the hills of Go J." Recollect always that it is God's field you are to cultivate, His children you are to teach and train, and He alone can give you wisdom to adapt your teaching to the capacity of each individual soul committed to your charge. Perhaps it may be your happy privilege to plant seed in a young heart that may bring forth fruit to the glory of God, and the blessing of the world when your voice is silent in the grave. 54 A LIFE OF SERVICE. To many children jjou take the place of absent or forgetful sponsors, and you should be careful to remember the solemnity of their promise. And some, alas, come to Sunday School from irreligious homes, where God and duty are almost unknown. To the latter you must pay especial attention, for you may be the only one to teach them of holy things and lead their feet into the way of peace. This teaching may be the one refining and humanizing influence that comes into lives darkened by poverty and sin. Study, then, to educate your every faculty of mind and body to fit you for this task, which might well demand an angel's powers. "Fail not for sorrow, falter not for sin, But upward, onward, tilJ the goal you win." The Sunday School should be strictly subor- dinate to the church. Its main design is to bring the children of the erring ones back to the fold from which their parents have wandered, to train those of the faithful committed to it to an understanding of their duties and an apprecia- tion of their privileges, and to fit its scholars to THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 55 enter into the prayers and praises of God's house. It may not always be possible to provide seats for them in church, though great efforts should be made to attain this, and impress upon them the reverence due to the courts of the Lord. If the children are taught the imperative duty of self-restraint in the school, they can be made to understand how much more important it is to exercise it in church, and refrain from whis- pering, moving their feet, leaning over the seats, arranging their clothing, and by their idleness and inattention disturbing the clergyman and congregation. Teaching by example is always effective, and if you are truly reverent yourself, you can make a stronger appeal to your scholars to be so, too. Rise from your seat promptly, and kneel when appointment requires, and respond in an audible voice. One of the most difficult and delicate acts is that of reproving without giving offense, and nothing but a careful study of each individ- ual disposition under your care will enable you to do this. 56 A LIFE OF SERVICE. If the children understand that you really love them, and are deeply interested in their welfare, the task is much easier. If you keep them engrossed with their lessons, they will find little leisure for the whispering and mischievous tricks and noises which disturb the whole school. It is always easier to drive out evil by substitut- ing good and leaving no room for it, and event- ually making habit, as the old proverb calls it, ''second nature." The plain, practical duties, taught in the Bible and the Catechism are said to be out of fashion now and behind the age, and "to submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters," unworthy of the dignity of young republicans. Lawlessness seems the bane of modern life, and the increase of youthful offenders in the records of crime is very noticeable. Thackeray, when on a visit to America, was asked what he thought the most striking difference in society here, replied that he "had been much struck by the strictness of family discipline." And when told that this was quite contrary to the received opinion, said, "I have never anywhere seen such obedient parents." THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 57 What traveller has not noticed this in busy station houses — the youngest member of the party, perhaps a girl of thirteen, ordering all the arrangements, selecting the most unsuitable and expensive articles for luncheon, directing the coachman — often quite in the wrong direc- tion — and seating each person according to her fancy, while the parents look on uncomfortably, but without remonstrance. You will often have to contend against this in your scholars. They will criticise the rector and superintendent, and assume that their opinion and management is much the best for everyone. Be very careful not to fall under the dominion of one of these strong-minded young people, nor let their judgment of those in authority at all influence you. Unless you can insist upon and enforce instant obedience to the rules of the school, you will find that the confusion which will prevail in your class will prevent your instruction from being heard, and when criticism begins, open rebellion will soon follow. A large school may be well, but one under good and thorough discipline will be better. At the first tap of the superintendent's bell, let all 58 A LIFE OF SERVICE. teaching and conversation cease at once; no matter how important the matter you are dis- cussing may be, discipline must be maintained and rules respected, and you must set the example of cheerful acquiescence. Obedience and self-control are two of the essential duties you have to teach, and you can- not effectually do so unless you practice them yourself. Children who are accustomed to acknowledge no rules but their own inclination, and submit to no government but that of their own changing fancies, are very difficult subjects to govern. Nothing but constant, prayerful efforts, will teach them how much happier they can be under firm, but loving control. Prepare every Sunday for a constant trial of your temper and patience, until they have learned this happy lesson, and, above all, never exhibit anger in your dealings with them. "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city." Anger is short madness, and words spoken while under its dominion will be most often hasty, and perhaps sinful, words. Unless you wish to mar your own and other lives, you will have learned to be particularly THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 59 careful to control your speech even when justly provoked. The Holy Scriptures command us to "be angry and sin not." Outward calmness is essential to this, and by keeping perfectly still, we can recover our equanimity even when most sorely tempted. There are many excellent books of Sunday School instruction, and the rector generally selects the ones that seem to him best Those are most helpful which follow closely the course of the Christian year; besides, loyalty to our own Church, should teach us to prefer them. Each fact in the life of our blessed Lord is brought out with suitable prominence. The year begins with Him when in Advent we wait and watch for His coming and with wills stirred up by the expectation, "put upon us the whole armour of light," always remem- bering that though His first coming to visit us was <; in great humility" we look for the second Advent, "in His Glorious Majesty.'* "One to another hear them speak The ratient, virgins wise; Surely He is not far to seek. All night we watch and rise! The days are evil, looking back, The coming days are dim; Yet count we not His promise slack But watch and wait for Him." LETTEE VI. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. Be always displeased with what thou art, if thou desirest to attain to what thou art not, for where thou hast pleased thyself, there thou abidest. But if thou 1 sayest, I have enough,thou perishest. Always add.always walk, alway proceed. Neither stand still, nor go back, nor deviate. St. Augfstine. The thoroughly good men are those who have done everything thoroughly, and who, in a word, have never despised anything however small, of God's making. Rusk in. O WHERE will you find more use for all the gifts and graces of the Spirit than in the Sunday School, and nowhere will you feel more all the deficiences of your education than when in contact with a class of bright, though unruly children, recently gathered, perhaps, from the streets of the city. Let the fact make you humble, and excite you to increased diligence in the cultivation of every power of your mind. Learn to think accurately, to trace certain effects to given causes, and carefully treasure up THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 61 the lessons experience teaches. Take one hun- dred children anywhere and study their charac- ters and dispositions thoroughly, and you will find that you have learned child-nature under almost every possible variety. Occasionally one will start up whom it seems impossible to guide and govern by any ordinary rules. Consult the w r isest teachers you know about these. They can tell you, most likely, of similar cases and how at last, roughness, impertinence, and worst of all, irreverence, were softened, subdued and banished, by persistent gentleness, faithfulness and prayer. If you teach quite young children, who read imperfectly, it is better to do so orally. Many of the kindergarten methods are suitable in an infant school, and will attract the attention of the youngest child. In these days, free schools, night schools and parish schools so fill the land that there is hardly a neighbourhood where you are likely to be, that the children have not the opportunity of learning to read. In the short time appropriated to Sunday School, you can make little progress in doing this, and religious truth is of much more 62 A LIFE OF SERVICE. importance. While the memory is strong, as it is in early youth, be careful to store it with the exact words of the Scripture, the Catechism and the Collects. These will be a lasting treasure, and when the understanding awakens, as it will later, it will have abundant stores of material to draw from. Do not be discouraged because you will have to repeat the same words and truths, day after day, and year after year without seeming to make the least impression. We must do our duty and leave the rest to God. There is much comfort in the story told of a clergyman in the north of Ireland, who, visiting a cottage near the linen bleaching grounds, was told by an old woman how much instruction and guidance she had derived from his ministra- tion in church. He questioned her closely, but found it impossible for her to remember anything said there perfectly enough to repeat. Seeing his discouragement, she took him to the field and showed him the linen spread upon the grass just from the loom, yellow and stained, and then that bleached by the influence of sun and shower. Such, she said, was her heart and life when first drawn to the Church ; but though THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 68 she could not tell which prayer or sermon had brought light to her darkened mind, it had come as the water and the sunshine to the linen. So may it be with your scholars, they, — "Like the stained web that whitens in the sun, Grow pure by being purely shone upon." If you have charge of the infant class, do not weary them by keeping their attention too long upon one subject. The Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments and the Collect for the day, may be gone over every Sunday; but you can let them sing a hymn or chant between. A short choral service at the opening of the school seems to keep the attention of everyone best. Let the versicles be short, and a few days of training will teach the whole school to re- spond perfectly. Thus let the boys sing: "O Lord, show Thy mercy upon us," and the girls respond: "And grant us Thy salvation." and so on through the selection appointed. Having once decided upon an opening form of devotion for the school, it is best not to change it without very good reason. Adapt the hymns 64 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. to the season of the Christian year and sing one often enough to make the children perfectly familiar with it. The Sunday School is to train the children for the Church, so it is best that the prayer and praises should be those author- ized by her Councils and printed with her sanction. The Hymnal furnishes many suitable and beautiful hymns for each season. Select say for Epiphany : "As with gladness men of old, Did the guiding star behold," or the pleasant and simple hymn: "Sons of men behold Jrom far," and retain the same ones year after year, so that when the children hear it in after days they may say at once, "That is our Sunday School hymn!" The power of association is very strong, and I cannot write the lines of these hymns without the sweet voices of some white-robed choristers coming back to me through the cloisters, and up the aisles of a quaint old church, where their THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 65 clear, ringing notes, led the procession of Sun- day School children coming into service, and the vivid imagery took the listener back to the first Epiphany whose story was pictured in the bright tints of the eastern window. Septuages- ima always brought "Alleluia ! song of sweetness,*" for the first note of preparation which then begins for the holy fast of Lent which was ushered in by the hymn: "Forty days and forty nights." It is well to call all the good forces of human nature to help the work of the Sunday School. Impressions made through the senses are strong in children, and verses and mottoes fixed on the walls of churches and school rooms will remain embedded in the memory forever. Let the Sunday School rooms be as pleasant as you can make them; and if poverty prevents you from making much permanent decoration, let it be always neat and clean. Enlist the feelings of the scholars to keep it so, and teach them those principles of neatness and honest care for the property of others, that keep them from defacing the seats, walls, and particularly the books. 66 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. A deeper feeling should be called in for the latter, as those used in Sunday School come within the injunction of the Catechism, "to honour His Holy Name and His Word." The Bibles, Prayer Books and Hymnals should be reverently handled and carefully laid away, for they contain what should be most precious to every human heart, the written Word of God. Some rectors have the gift of administration in a remarkable degree, and will leave their impress upon a parish for many years after they have passed away. If you are fortunate enough to live in such a parish, study carefully the plans their wisdom has devised, that you may put them in practice in other places. Blessed be God, there are many such parishes all over our country; but I would like to describe one to show how persevering effort will overcome obstacles that seem, at first, unsur- mountable. Perhaps the most difficult field of labour, unless you can control a great deal of money, is a parish in the lower wards of a large city. The tide of fashion moving upward has long since swept all families of the better classes THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 67 away; but among the crowded ranks of ware- houses, factories and shops, there are lanes, alleys, and courts filled with tenement houses, and swarming with children. In just such a neighborhood is the parish of All Saints" and the large, old-fashioned church, said to have been designed in Colonial days by Sir Christopher Wren, has been left a mile or more from the residence of those who were, perhaps, baptized at its ancient font. To teach in its Sunday Schools is truly missionary labour, and this is one reason of its great efficiency. Those who do so must be drawn by heart-felt interest in the work, or they would not make the self-denying efforts necessary to reach the church from a distance of some miles, at the early hour of the morning school. The new parish building was constructed over the cloisters, and the room for the general Sunday School is in the third story, the second being appropriated to the infant and parish school rooms, and to the Bible classes. This large and airy room accommodated five hundred children so pleasantly that you were -never conscious how many were there. Cocoa matting 68 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. deadened the sound of feet, and circular benches, with the teacher's chair at the opening, gave you the impression of teaching in a separate room. At each season, texts, especially bringing out the lesson taught by it, are placed over the arches of the windows. At Advent, "Behold thy King cometh, go ye out to meet Him," and other similar sentences, attracted the eye on entering. These were changed at Christmas for evergreen mottoes among the wreaths and garlands of the decorations for the Feast of the Nativity. Again in Lent the sentence in purple letters, "Rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God," prepared you at once for the changed character of the opening services. The triumphant carols that welcomed the Nativity gave place to the plead- ings of penitence and the supplications of contrite hearts. The class and school banners were ranged among the pictures and framed mottoes upon the walls, and each of these had its history of joy and sorrow with which the children were familiar. The picture of "The Good Shepherd" THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 69 enfolding a lamb upon His Bosom, came from the nursery of a lovely child, whose closing moments were clouded by delirious fancies, but whose infant accents lisped among them the reverent thoughts associated with this cherished companion of her childhood. And, those texts were worked by hands whose earthly labours are ended, and who are learning, in upper countries, the full meaning of truths seen but dimly here. One side of the room was appropriated to closets where the books for the schools were kept. The boys" classes were numbered, and the girls' lettered, and each had a shelf and box given to it. These were unlocked a few moments before the superintendent's bell gave notice for perfect silence, and each teacher distributed to her class the cards containing the opening service, the Prayer Book and Hymnals. Places were found in the latter, and the choir called to seats about the organ, which was be- neath the superintendent's platform. A hymn for the season was printed on linen rolls hung on the walls. After the devotions were over, 70 A LIFE OF SERVICE. five minutes were allowed for marking attend- ance by the teacher, gathering the offerings and placing the returned library books, with cards enclosed, upon the librarian's desk. Then came two bells for perfect silence for the lesson. Thirty-five minutes were allotted to this. The officers of the school, under the rector, consisted of a superintendent, a lady assistant, who walked through the girls' classes, a secre- tary, who did the same for the boys, marking the attendance of every child, a librarian and his assistants. The choirmaster came in for a few moments before the close of the school, and taught a new strain for the chants, or a new hymn for the next season. Five minutes, before the children marched down into the church, were allowed for collecting and returning the cards and books to their boxes in the closets. A gallery committee was appointed each Sunday to oversee the children in church. They stood at the door to loan a Prayer Book and Hymnal to each child who was without them, and marked strictly each one's behaviour. The penalty for whispering, or any other irreverent conduct, was to be deprived of a library book. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 71 These were given out at the second session of the school which began at half-past two. and was devoted to the Catechism and review of the morning lesson. Some time was given to the practice of hymns, and attendance at Even- ing Prayer was not exacted except upon the first Sunday of the month. Then the school marched into the body of the church and were catechised by the rector. Every child received, from a prize fund left by a former superintendent, a handsome certifi- cate as soon as he could repeat the Catechism perfectly. The superintendent remained after the second session of the school to hear all whose names the teachers sent up to him for this purpose, and the certificates were presented, framed, at the children's monthly service. You could see them hanging upon dingy walls in those crowded courts where the children lived, often the sole ornament, and they were always pointed out with pride and pleasure by the parents. The order of the school was excellent and its perfect machinery moved smoothly and quietly. A roll of honour was hung upon the wall, con- taining the names of those who obeyed the 72 A LIFE OF SERVICE. rules. These were a sort of upper form, and they wore badges and had some slight monitorial duty. To be degraded from this roll was much dreaded. Open irreverence and disobedience were the offences punished thus. The graded questions published by Rev. Dr. Cook of St. John's chapel, New York, were used and thus the whole school could use the same book. After a scholar had passed from the infant school through the different classes of this upper room, he was placed in a Bible class on the floor below. I have thus endeavoured to answer your request, and tell you of a school where teaching was surrounded by everything to make it pleasant, and I hope you will find in it much that you can imitate in your own home. The perfect discipline and regularity rendered it the best I have seen. Blessed will be the reward of these and like faithful teachers, not perhaps in this world, where it is given to few to see the return of the ripened sheaves from the harvest; but at the breaking of some fair morning in Paradise, when clustering spirits shall come to greet them and THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 73 say — "you loved us, you prayed for us. you taught us, you trained our infant lips to sing the praises of Him who died for us; you led our youthful steps into the paths of holiness, and death had no sting and the valley of the shadow of death no terror. Now in the light of the presence of the Holy One. we wait the full employment and enjoyment of the ransomed in Heaven.'' "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever." LETTER VII. LENT. The Paschal lamb was eaten with bitter herbs— a perpetual lesson that bitterness and sorrow are the road to joy. Pascal. Immortal, the soul dwells in the mortal body; so the Christians dwell in the corruptible, but looked for incorruption in heaven The soul is better for restriction in food and drink; so the Christians increase, though daily punished. This lot God has assigned to the Chris- tians in the world and it cannot be taken from them.— Epistola ad Diognctum. ( Second Century ) TsTOU write me that you cannot help shrinking £-*- from the active duties of a spiritual life, that the seclusion to which imperative family claims have for years confined you, unfit you now for constant contact with others. This is a natural feeling, but, if too long indulged, will become morbid. It is just at such a critical stage in life that so many women fail, and after being self-denying and devoted to their own families, when they cease to demand their care, they sink into indolent, selfish and aimless beings, or fretful, discontented invalids. LENT. 75 Jean Paul says most truly, "The first thing we have to contend against in sorrow, as in anger, is its poisonous, enervating sweetness, which we are so loth to exchange for the labour of consoling ourselves and to drive away by the efforts of reason." This can best be done by beginning at once some active duty to benefit others, and it is well that the season of the Christian year has come when you can, by fast- ing, penitence and prayer, prepare yourself for your work. You have been so thoroughly instructed in the Bible and Church history, that it is not necessary to say anything of the great value of this partial withdrawal from the world, for the dear fast of Lent: "Which Christ Himseif the Lord and Guide, Of every season sanctified.' - But it is well, each year to feel what a privi- lege it is thus to follow His example, believing that the only aim of life is to tread in His steps. "Whosoever w T ill come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." Follow Him into the wilderness where forty 76 A LIFE OF SERVICE. days He fasted and overcame the temptation of the devil, that, like Him also in victory, angels may come and minister unto us. Holy Scripture and the Church direct you to fast, and the latter, in her wisdom, has ap- pointed particular seasons and days when this duty is expressly enjoined. Study the table of the "days of fasting or abstinence" that you will find in the Prayer Book, and you will see that the u forty days of Lent" head the list. Pray that God will give us grace to use them aright, and while obeying the injunction of the Holy Gospel for Ash Wednesday, "that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret," we may use such abstinence that our flesh, being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey His godly motions in righteous- ness and true holiness. Our Church, while thus strictly enjoining the duty, and teaching the benefits of fasting, leaves a large liberty to her children. You cannot be faithful to this duty, or obedient to her teaching, unless you use some abstinence from food, amusements and pleasures at other times harmless. LENT. i < "More sparing therefore let us make lhe words we speak, the food we take. Deny ourselves in mirth and sleep, In stricter watch our senses keep. "In prayer together let us fall, And cry for mercy one and all, And weep before the Judge and say- On! turn from us Thy wrath away." Many give up one article of food they are accustomed to use at each meal, such as butter, sugar, tea. coffee, sweetmeats, or sweets for the season, and some, whose health permit, keep Wednesday, the day on which our Blessed Lord was betrayed, and Friday, that on which He was crucified, as stricter fasts. You will haye to be guided in this by your own constitutional peculiarities, as well as by the daily duties of your life. Food of some kind, if these require much physical exertion, will probably be neces- sary at the regular hours to which you haye been accustomed, to give you strength properly to perform them; but you may be able to change the quantity or the quality without suffering in health. If your diet is always so simple as to admit of little change, there are many ways of denying yourself which will bring you the benefits of fasting. 78 A LIFE OF SERVICE. Some to whom the courser pleasures of the senses are unknown, have an inordinate fond- ness for scientific research, or some one form of intellectual pursuit. This is a high and ennob- ling taste, but even in this you must sometimes deny yourself, remembering the advice of Arch- bishop Leighton — "If you would be spiritual, healthful and vigorous, and enjoy much of the consolation of heaven, be sparing and sober in those of earth, and what you abate of the one, shall certainly be made up in the other." An occasional indulgence in works of fiction is to many minds a refreshment, and, where the spirit of the book is good, and its tone pure, it is harmless. But if it in the least indisposes you for more solid reading, you must be careful always, lest you injure your taste in this respect. Novels should be certainly given up in Lent, and the time they would consume be given to religious reading. A daily portion from suitable books for the season read at your morning devotions, you will find a great assistance, such as Bishop Huntington's "Helps to a Holy Lent;' 1 Miss SewelPs "Daily Readings for Lent;" "Passing Thoughts on Religion" by the same LENT. 79 author; Dean Goulbourn's, Canon Liddoirs, Jeremy Taylor's, Archbishop Leighton's works and many others might be mentioned. It is as true now as when Chaucer wrote: "Out of old fields as men saithe, Cometh all this new corn from year to yea**; Out of old books in good faithe, Cometh all this new science that men lere.'' Some rectors are accustomed to recommend religious books to their congregations for Lent. and themselves read aloud at some of the services portions from those they deem most edifying. Parish libraries, and also many private ones, generally contain a good selection of Lenten reading. If you live where you have access to plenty of books, do not forget your friends who may be less fortunate. In remote places, a new book is a great treat, and after you have enjoyed a good one thoroughly, you might send it to some neighbourhood where it would be highly appre- ciated and valued. Look over your shelves and see if you cannot spare some interesting volume to go as a loan or gift on such an errand. If you do not know just where to send it. "The 80 A LIFE OF SERVICE. Church Periodical Club" will tell you. That noble society is doing much admirable work in supplying literature to Clergy away from cities. In a recent visit to California, T heard much of the good it was doing in the lonely places of that large country. "Fasting is called, by the doctors of the Church," says Jeremy Taylor, "the nourishment of prayer, the wings of the soul, the diet of angels, the instruments of humility and self- denial, the purification of the spirit.'* St. Basil says the paleness of visage consequent upon protracted fasts, is the mark on the forehead which the angel observed when he signed the Saints to escape the wrath of the Lamb. If you have young people under your direction, or influence, be careful that they lose not the benefit of the season of Lent. Endeavour to order the family hours so that they will have leisure for the services of the Church during the week, without interfering with their studies. While it is not often advisable for them to fast at all, in the strict sense of the word, if they should choose to abstain from any favorite article of LENT. 81 food for forty days, the effect will generally be beneficial. I knew of a large school whose matron proposed that all who were willing to give up dessert during Lent should sit at particular tables, and the money it would cost to provide it, should be an Easter offering from the school. The few boys who did not agree to do this, sat at one table and had the usual allowance of delicacies; but the others contributed, through the offertory, many dollars to an orphanage, a hospital, and the Missionary Society, as the fruit of their self-denial. This is a good plan; in families and in parishes where it has been tried, the offerings largely increase . If your Church is in debt, or some improve- ment on the building is needed, see if you cannot, by additional effort and self-denial, increase your alms to remove the debt, or make the improvement. Thus, like the devout Cor- nelius, your prayers and alms may go up an acceptable offering to God. Say as little about your effort as possible, and do not attract others' attention to them. 82 A LIFE OF SEEVICE. What may seem a little sacrifice of pleasure, ease, luxury, or even comfort in the sight of men, may demand constant and prayerful effort on the part of the maker. I have never been more impressed with the reality of religious purpose than by seeing a young man abstain from the use of tobacco during the whole of Lent. While the fumes of the noxious weed undoubtedly cloud the mind, unstring the nerves and undermine the constitution, yet, like other narcotics, it soothes for the time and braces the delicate organs it is siowly poisoning. Then, too, "the mild-eyed, melan- choly lotos-eaters/' deprived of their wonted stimulant, are so no longer, but are apt, at first, to be fretful, peevish and uncomfortable com- panion^ so that religion and philosophy must be constantly exerted to restrain the expression of the physical and mental discomfort its loss occasions; but when once, in the strength of God the victory is obtained, the slave is a free man, and has risen high in the dignity of created beings. LENT. S> There are few bad habits as tyrannical over its votaries as this; and while it pollutes the sweet air of heaven, making it offensive and sickening, soils the person, the house, the furni- ture, and even defiles the books, by a strange perversion of truth, young boys think it maul;/ to put themselves beneath the yoke of such hii unclean habit, and waste their own and others' money in procuring the expensive poison. If ever one. like the rector of St. Bardolph. longed "for a few rich, unctious. fruity words, in the deficient Saxon, to give an audible expression to — ."well, the rector is perhaps severe, so we will say. the emotions excited by such manliness. this is one of the occasions. In cities, parties, receptions and balls gener- ally cease during the Lenten season, and in the time thus gained you should have leisure not only for increased private and public devotion, but works of corporal and spiritual mercy. The former are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothes to the naked, redeeming captives, visiting the sick, entertaining strangers and burying the dead; the latter, teaching the ignorant, counseling the doubting, comforting 84 A LIFE OF SERVICE. the afflicted, pardoning offenders and praying for all estates of men. To do these well, you must begin with your own heart; try to gain the victory over every evil habit, and to cultivate the graces in which you are most deficient; "to believe all things, to do all things, to suffer all things," which God's will appoints us. Confess your sins often to Him and join heartily, yet with deep abasement of spirit, in the public Confession and Litanies. Let "our souls dwell low in the deep valley of humility*' that we may come up from the wilderness leaning upon the Beloved and bring- ing "all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old,"* which He has laid up there. You have probably learned long since, from rigid self- examination, what are the temptations that are most likely to assail you, and the sins which most easily beset you. Study now to keep a stricter watch against them, and pray con- stantly that God, by His grace, will enable you to overcome them. Say, "I can do all things in the might of His Spirit and by the example and loving sympathy of our Blessed Lord;'* and LENT. 85 do not be discouraged if at first you seem tc make little progress. Take some one definite sin, such as anger, and strive against it. Many in whom the instincts of good breeding are strong, and with whom the laws of society are powerful, will exercise perfect self-restraint in the presence of strangers: but when with their own families, allow the anger rising in their hearts to find vent in sharp speeches, and bitter, even cruel, words. Indeed, the people they love best are often selected as the proper victims of their wrath. Unrestrained passion is a dangerous thing, and the person who indulges in it is on a road that leads to insanity and death. In the delicate balance of our spiritual, mental and physical nature, one heavy weight may clog the exquisite machinery, and hopeless disorder is the consequence. A medical superintendent of one of the largest retreats for the insane in this country, said that nine-tenths of the patients who came there were insane by their own fault, and explained it as the ruin that unrestrained indulgence brought into even the finest natures. 86 A LIFE OF SERVICE. If you have not had the inestimable privilege of religious training, and learned self-restraint from your infancy, give all the powers of your mind to the task now, and resolve that you will never do another unkind act, or speak another word, under the influence of anger. Those short, peevish answers, those quick, sharp retorts, those bitter, stinging sarcasms which break up the peace of families and societies, can it be possible that they come from Christian lips; lips that have learned to pray and call the Lord of heaven and earth — the God of love — "our Father ? ,? Can those fierce passions live in a heart that has submitted to the yoke of the meek and lowly Jesus, who, amid sorrow unutterable, called for forgiveness upon His enemies and turned His cheek to the smiter? Can the Holy Spirit whose chosen symbol is the gentle dove, dwell among such unclean birds as are the foul crew begotten by anger, wrath and uncharitableness? If you have never begun before to cast them out, take this for your Lenten w T ork. If there lives a friend whom in your anger you have wronged, or by your vehemence you have estranged, confess your LENT. 87 fault to that friend and humbly ask for pardon- You cannot expect God's blessing on your fast and penitence unless you seek the forgiveness of those against whom you have sinned. Perhaps you may say. "I am not the offender, I am justly angry." The Holy God might be justly angry with us every day, and yet He sent us countless blessings, calls us lovingly to come to Him. though our "sins be as scarlet/' and sends His Beloved Son. "the ever Blessed Jesus, who suffered all the contradictions of sinners, and received all affronts and reproaches of malicious, rash and foolish persons, and yet. in all of them. was as dispassionate and gentle as the morning sun in Autumn." Faber asks of injuries: ;, 0h! do you hear that Voice from heaven, Forgive and you shall be forgiven? Softly on every wind that blows, Through the wide earth the promise goes, Absolving sin and opening heaven. For we forgive and are forgiven." Make this, then, the first act of self-denial of this solemn season; and when you have asked pardon and extended full forgiveness for all past injuries, resolve that 'From this hour we do not know The thought, the thing men mean by foe." LET TEE VIII. SOKEOW. God had one Son without sin; He has no son without sorrow. St. Augustine. Affliction is a divine diet, which, though it be not pleasing to mankind, yet Almighty God hath often im- posed it as a good, though bitter physic to those children whose souls are dearest to Him. Izaac Walton. Y Deae L : One of the prophetic names of our Blessed Lord is "the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief;" and can we then, the children of God and heirs with Christ, expect to escape this, His chosen heritage? "Out of the deep," must we continually cry for help to Him who has trodden each step of the bitter pathway before us. "He Himself bore our sins," and the very fact of His immaculate purity made the load heavier and the agony of the conflict more tremendous. It is a blessed privilege to be like Him even in suffering, and it is a necessary part of the earthly discipline which fits us for the full SOKROW. 89 enjoyment of the society of the redeemed in Paradise. "If I must win my way to perfectness Jn the sad path of suffering, like Him The overflowing river of whose life Touches the flood-marks of humanity On the white pillars of the Heavenly throne, Then welcome evil! welcome sickness, toil, Sorrow and pain, the fear and fact of death!" This is the only spirit in which sorrow should be met; and we can. amid our suffering even, rejoice that we are called thus to a closer fellow- ship with Christ, and can understand a little of the weight of woe He bore for us. During these days of fasting, it is well to think much of this, to study the history of our Blessed Lord, and particularly the full record given of the last days of His life on earth ; and in Passion week that account of when "they came to a place which was named Grethsemane and He saith to His disciples. ; My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death.* " The weight of that mysterious Agony is beyond our power to understand, but it has sanctified all suffering; and no matter how deeply we may feel that the storms and billows have beat over us- there is yet, beyond, a lower depth of anguish 90 A LIFE OF SERVICE. consecrated by the blessed steps of the Son of God. That holy self-restraint which is the mark of the Cross upon our hearts and lives, never can show itself more plainly than in times of sorrow, and we must never forget that we have no right to inflict the outward expression of our grief upon others, beyond a certain point. The spirit of lowdy submission to the Will of God. which bows humbly at the foot of the Cross, learns there the lesson which that Agony teaches. "I was dumb, and opened not My mouth because Thou didst it." "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee: take away this cup from Me; nevertheless not what I will, but what Thou wilt.** When we thus dwell in the valley of humility and lose our w T ill in that of the Holy One. there come sweet comfortings and strength from above. St Luke writes: "And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.** This is the perfect submission we are to imitate. Not to question why such sorrow should come to us more than to others; why SORROW. 91 our beloved ones are taken from as while others less dear, less useful, less tender and true, are left: why ill health mars our happiness. destroys our usefulness and darkens our days: but to say with our Blessed Lord, agonizing in the garden, and crushed beneath the load of the world's transgression. "Q My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me. except I drink it. Thy will be done." k, God, Kinsman loved, but not enough, Man with eyes Majestic after death. Whose feet have toiled along out pathway rough, Who6e lips draw human breath; "By that one likeness which is ours and Thine. By that one nature which doth hold us kin, By that high heaven where sinless Thou dost shine. To draw us sinners in. •'By that last silence in the judgment hall, By long foreknowledge of the dreadful tree, By darkness, by the wormwood and the gall, 1 pray Thee, visit me." I hope you know this poem of Jean Inge- low's: the meaning comes out fnlly in the latter verses, and I may weary by quoting more; but the idea should be ever present with us. that one of the main uses of sorrow is to teach us to alleviate that of others, after we have, by self- discipline, extracted the sweet from its bitter- 92 A LIFE OF SERVICE. ness,and learned how tenderly God's comfortings come to His suffering children. You will find the daily services of the Church a very great solace in your affliction. If you live in other people's houses, and. can command little solitude, the quiet coolness of the church will be most refreshing to soul and spirit. It is best in a large city to select some one parish for the home of your affections, the sphere of your labours, and the centre of your charities. It is a sort of dissipation to be running from one church to another, here attracted by fine music, or more elaborate services, or there by an unusually good reader or fine preacher. These things are all good in their places; but do not seek them, too much, or speak of them as the all engrossing object of your search. God blesses all faithful ministration of His Word and Sacraments, and you are much more likely to share this blessing while you are in the quiet discharge of daily duty, than if you have gone far to look for it, leaving these unfulfilled behind you. SOKKOW. 93 If you have changed your home and are looking about for some particular congregation or parish with which to connect yourself, think of the claim of the humblest in your neigh- bourhood first. Is there no mission or strug- gling free church near you. where the coming of a new member, with a heart to love the sanctuary, and a willingness to spend and to be spent in its service, would be welcome? If so. do not go miles away to seek a fashionable and crowded church, when you might help build up one at your doors. It is right to make beautiful the sanctuary — the place where " Thine Honor dwelleth.'* and we have the sanction of His Word and the gracious pleasure that He took in such adorning, in the days of old. as our own warrant for such an effort; but not at the expense of more serious matters. Remember, there was a scale of offerings provided by the Jewish law; in place of the lamb for a burnt offering, the poor woman could bring a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons, as did the Virgin mother of our Blessed Lord at His Presentation in the Temple. "Whosoever is of a willing mind, let Him bring 94 A LIFE OF SERVICE. it an offering of the Lord; gold, silver and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen and goat's hair." If God has given you the ability, bring of your gold and jewels to adorn the sanctuary; but if you are poor, believe that the goat's hair and the badger skins, which were within the reach of the poorest Israelite, were equally acceptable in His sight, who looks at the heart as consecrating the gift. Do not despise the Lenten services held at your humble chapel, and believe that God's presence can be as truly in those simple rites, as in those where art and music lend their charms to deepen their solemnity. The wealth of colouring, the soft light stealing in through stained win- dows, the pictured story there, the suggestive symbols, each telling of the Cross, the glory and mystery of the Holy Trinity, or the power of the Holy Ghost, are attractive and beautiful. Used aright, they become helps to holiness, and you should accustom yourself to recognize and appreciate their teaching. But while thus enjoying them, when you can have them, do not allow yourself to consider them of so much importance that you pine for SORROW. 95 them when necessarily worshipping where they cannot be had. In the humblest temple, accep- table worship can go up to Him who dwelleth not alone in temples made with hands. Think of Solomon's words at the dedication of that magnificent temple for the "Congregation of Israel:"* "And he stood before the altar of the Lord . . . and kneeled down upon his knees . . . and said. But will God in very deed dwell with men on earth? Behold heaven and earth cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have built?" In many large cities you have much liberty m selecting a church, unless ties of duty should call you strongly to some particular congrega- tion. The cross-tipped spires point out God's temples within a few blocks of each other in the upper neighborhood of the Atlantic cities, and you need not go far to choose. The primitive rule was the nearest parish church, and I think it is well to keep to it still, if the Book of Common Prayer is closely followed in the Daily Offices. Nothing can make up for the loss of the form of sound words, consecrated by the 96 A LIFE OF SERVICE. pious breathings of the devout children of the Church in all ages. Having selected your place of worship, you are now to enter upon the duty to which God calls you there, and give freely of your time, thought, money and influence, to promote its best interests. Let these be willing offerings, tendered cheerfully and unasked as unto the Lord. '•So shalt thou find in work and thought The peace that sorrow cannot give; Though griefs worst pangg to thee be taught, By thee let others nobler live." In these scattered hints, I cannot dwell upon the deep things of the spirit; you find them in your Bible, in the teachings of the Church, and in the lives of the Saints of old. It is well to study faithfully all these records. The Saints all "confessed that they were stran- gers and pilgrims on the earth, declared plainly that they sought a country, a better country, that is, a heavenly, " and in all their trials "of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment,'' they were joyful through faith, patient in hope and found "the peaceable fruit of righteousness." SORROW. 97 The promise is to us even as to them, and if we exercise the same holy faith and patience we shall, like them, receive the same blessed reward. '•Happy are they that team in Him How patient sufferings teach The secret of enduring strength. And praise too deep for speech; Peace that no pressure from without. No strife within can reach." "Sorrows are the pulses of spiritual life : after each beat we pause only that we may gather strength for the next;"' and all sorrow, unless sanctified by prayer and consecrated to Him who in His wisdom sent us the hidden blessing- hardens the heart and unfits us for Christian duty. The temptation comes to us to doubt God's tenderness and love, to repine at His chastenings, and question His wisdom. Do not attempt to reason with this device of the adversary of souls, but pray continually against it. If you have accustomed yourself to daily self-denial, to unquestioning obedience, and quiet faithfulness in the duties appointed you. you will find them of inestimable service in such a time of sorrow. In the hush of earth's voices, you can better listen to those that speak 98 A LIFE OF SERVICE. from heaven; and you will tread softly, as if in the cool shade of some dim forest, where the noise and tumult of life is heard only from afar. Let your own suffering teach you constant tenderness and sympathy with all who suffer in "mind, body or estate." You have been able to mitigate the pain of your loved ones by the thousand devices that medical skill, art, luxury and affection, have invented. Their dying- pillows were soothed by the presence of the appointed minister of God, whose voice pierced the stillness of the shadow of death beginning to shroud the senses, and told them of a light in the dark valley, of the washing in the blood of the Immaculate Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world, and commended their souls into the Hands of a faithful Creator. But thousands are dying without these blessings. LTnsoothed, untended and uncared for, they wrestle with the death agony, and no voice tells them that it may be a prelude to joys immortal. Forget not these, and help all hospi- tals and infirmaries within reach of your benefactions, in thankful remembrance of your loved departed ones who are sleeping in Jesus. SORROW. 99 Perhaps the last tie that binds you to the home of your childhood has been broken, ami you say in your sorrow there is no earthly one now left to you. But you can make a home wherever you may be; and while patting on the robes of righteousness that will alone fit you for heavenly habitations, see if you cannot bring light into other houses. Perhaps the tender ministration of an infirmary your charity aids in supporting, will drive away the death angel from some family whom his presence was threatening, and the light of an humble home may be saved to them a little longer. Remember to be "fervent in prayer" at the parts of the public service of the Church where "all sick persons and young children.** "all that are desolate and oppressed" are particularly mentioned. In some congregations where the prayers of the faithful are desired for chronic invalids, it is customary to make a slight pause at these clauses, and minister and people say softly to themselves the names of those whom they thus remember. Try to realize the blessings that come from Heaven in answer to prayer; drive away all doubts as to its efficiency from its 100 A LIFE OF SERVICE. conflict with the laws of nature, by the suTe Word of the God of Nature. "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you/* Our blessed Lord repelled the temptation of the devil by the pure Word of God; and following His Holy example, you must crush each rising doubt by a — "thus saith the Lord, 1 ' from the Book He has left us. The heathen recognized the uses of sorrow in refining and purifying the mind, and teaching true wisdom. Many striking passages might be quoted from their writings to illustrate this. Seneca says: "He that never was acquainted with adversity, has seen the world but on one side, and is ignorant of half the scenes of nature." And Goethe, the greatest of modern pagans, writes: "Who ne'er ate the bread of sorrow, Who ne'er passed the darksome hour, Weeping and watching for to-morrow; He knows ye not, ye heavenly power. " But our Christian poet, the saintly Keble, gives the keynote to right thinking when he says: SORROW. 101 "From darkness and dreariness We ask not full repose, Only be Thou at hand to bless Our trial hour of woes. "Is not the pilgri m ' s toil > er paid By the clear riJl and palnily shade, And see we^not up earth's dark glade The gates of heaven unclose?" LETTER IX. THE MOTHERS" MISSION. "Let us reach into our bosoms For the key to others' lives, And with love towards erring nature, Cherish good that still survives." JT is generally thought best that some of the most experienced Christians in the congre- gation should have charge of that most important branch of Church work — the Mothers' Mission. But in the good providence of God you may be placed where the services of such are not available, and I think you should not shrink from the task if you have the approval of your rector. While older persons may be in charge of the religious services of the mission, the strength and enthusiasm of younger people may well be enlisted in visiting members in their homes, looking up the absentees, and, perhaps, finding new persons who may be glad to join. THE mothers' mission. 103 I think that it is much better for the lady associates to be all communicants of the same parish, while the women, whom they teach, may be gathered in anywhere. Except in our larger cities, there are few towns where it is not safe for a lady of ordinary discretion and judgment to visit any neighborhood among the poor, and when the older ladies have explored it. they may safely share the duty with younger persons. If you ever have an opportunity, study the way in which our sisterhoods are working in larger cities. "The Bishop Potter Memorial House" was formany years the favorite tie Id of work of that large-hearted layman. William Welsh, whose praise is in all the churches, and whose loss, when stricken down in the midst of his usefulness, we all lament. Christian women were trained there to work in the parish, the hospital, and the missionary field, and faithful labourers are showing how well this training was adapted to our present needs by successful work in different dioceses, and missionary juris- dictions. Under the judicious oversight of one, who. more fully, perhaps, than any living man in 104 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. America, knew and felt for the wants of the poor, a neighborhood was selected for the sisters, in which to begin their missions. These were often in the manufacturing districts near the Memorial House. Every tenement was visited, and a list made of its inmates, w T ith notes of their character and circumstances. The women were invited to join the Mothers' Mission, the men, the Bible classes, and the children, the Sunday School. This is called canvassing, and is the only way in which the needs of a district can be fully known. Subsequent visits are, of course, made, and arrangements perfected for procuring a suitable room for holding the Mission, and the Bible class, and the services of the Church. In these manufacturing centres so many of the women are employed during the day in mills, that night is the only convenient time for them to meet. Perhaps it will be more practical to describe the Mothers' Mission conducted by one of these sisters in All Saints' parish. It was held in a large room in the parish building, used for a Bible class on Sundays, for Mission- ary and Dorcas societies, and for the instruction given for Sunday School teachers every Monday THE MOTHERS 1 MISSION. 105 night upon the next lesson. Tuesday evening at 7 :00 o'clock, the mothers met in this pleasant room, well warmed and brightly lighted, and hung about with framed texts of Scripture and pictures. A large table occupied the centre of the room upon which the work and books were placed. The librarian was generally in attend- ance for a few moments before the time of opening, and exchanged and marked off the books. As the clock struck the hour, the bell sounded, the doors were locked, and the opening services began . Where only a single room is placed at the disposal of the mission, it would hardly be well to lock the doors and expose its members to the inclemency of the weather. Attendance upon a sick person, or an infant, will sometimes make perfect punctuality impossible for very poor people, though it is astonishing when they have learned, as they do quickly, to prize the religious services, how very rarely they fail of being in their places when the bell strikes. At All Saints' they could wait in the parish school rooms which were upon the same floor, and warm. 106 A LIFE OF SERVICE. The librarian played upon the melodeon, and some of the pleasant hymns from the Hymnal were great favourites with the women. As many of the members of the mission were English ? Welsh, Irish and German, they were often unable to read, and it was necessary to teach them the hymns by repeating them orally, in concert, three or four times before beginning to sing them. It is better to do this in most cases, for persons, whose early education has been neglected, read so very imperfectly that it is doubtful if they catch much of the meaning of the lines they so painfully endeavor to spell out. If both the tune and the words of the hymn are new to the members of the mission, it is well to sing it over to them once before beginning the devotional exercises. Those who have a good ear for music will readily catch the tunes, and for the others you might have a short singing lesson at the close of the mission. After the hymn, use the Collect for the week and, the season. In Lent, what is called the Lesser Litany may be an appropriate portion of your prayers. Always decide upon what THE MOTHEES* MISSION. 107 Collect from the Prayer Book you will use beforehand, and if you have not a printed form taken from the books of directions for Mothers' Missions, write one out yourself by the advice and guidance of your rector. "Lighten our darkness, we beseech Thee, oh Lord/* and "Direct us in all our doings," with the Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent, are appropriate at all times. I copy a prayer that was used in a successful Mothers* Mission, which may be of use to you: "Oh Almighty God, the Father and Saviour of all men, help us, we beseech Thee, to behave with Christian charity and wisdom to all that are in distress, poverty or suffering. Let none of us come under Thy condemnation on the great day of judgment, for want of mercy or charity to our brethren, who in this world of trial, were hungry, or thirsty, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and to whom, when we had the power, we did not minister. Help us to deny our- selves, that we may, each in our measure, have to give to them that need; and that we may ever work, with Thee and for Thee in diminishing the sorrows, the miseries, and the sins, of this 108 A LIFE OF SERVICE. evil world, for the sake of Him who suffered and died for all, Thy blessed Son. our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen." Be particular that each one joins in the Lord's Prayer in an audible voice, and also in repeating the Creed. If you find that any of the members of the mission do not know the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments, it is well to teach them to repeat them in unison. And after they are thoroughly taught, use the former at every meeting of the mission, and the commandments as often as once a month. Do not forget that grown persons are often as ignorant as little children of the first princi- ples of religious truth, and need as much careful and constant teaching. The same rules that apply to teaching in Sunday School must come into use here. You will need to pray for God's help and His wisdom to fit you for the task. The direction of Ignatius Loyola in the Spiritual Exercises comes into use in every possible branch of Christian service. ''Let us pray as if we had no help in ourselves; let us THE MOTHEES* MISSION. 109 labour as if there were no help for us in Heaven." Nothing is blest without prayer, but nothing comes without labour. If you are to succeed in anything, it will never be by wishing for it. but by patient, prayerful, constant, earnest and uncomplaining working for the desired object. In selecting the portion of Scripture for reading and explanation, after the prayers of the mission have been said, it is thought best always to have one of the Psalms. If you have considerable musical ability, or can obtain the assistance of any young person who has. it will be easy to teach the women to chant some simple strain, which you can vary with the season of the Christian year. Thus in Lent you can sing or say the "De Profundis"' to a plaintive measure, and at Easter-tide the anthem for the day — "Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more," etc. The "Venite^ the "Jubilate." the "Benedict us" and others from the Church service will be suitable at other seasons. The Gospel for the coming week is generally selected for the New Testament lesson, and as 110 A LIFE OF SERVICE. one of the objects of the mission is to interest its members in the service of the Church, it is well to explain the why, and wherefore, of much that is strange to them. You will need to carefully study the Gospel, as well as the appointed lessons for the day. to draw out their full meaning. Consult the best Church writers whose works you can procure, and make a careful abstract of their teaching, being- particular to clothe it in simple language. Never trust to the thought of the moment, though you may have the gift of fluent speech; write out beforehand your little exposition, even if you do not use all of it. It requires much greater gifts of taste, talent, and culture, and the higher acquirements of profound wisdom, knowledge and broad experience than ordinary persons are likely to possess, to make unpre- meditated teaching agreeable or profitable. But while you have the written page before you, learn the art of reading without seeming to read. This comes only from earnest study and constant practice. After the exposition of the Gospel, read some short story, and when the women are THE MOTHERS* MISSION. Ill trained to listen, a chapter from some good book, such as "Bedes Charity." "Jessica's Prayer," and "Alone in London." Let the religious exercises occupy about an hour, and then have the sewing produced. At first, they might bring their own mending, and you might teach them the best way of repairing their clothes. After that, simple garments for their children. Once a month the sewing should be for some charitable purpose, such as a neighbor who is ill. or unusually poor, one who may hare had her clothing destroyed, or for the missionary box that the parish is making up. Encourage conversation, but not gossip, during the sewing. If there is a tendency to this, read for a few minutes, or if they are deeply interested in the story, for a longer time. Close punctually by singing a hymn at 9:00 o'clock. LETTER X. THE SEWING SCHOOL. fERHAPS a description of an ordinary sewing school connected with a parish in B may serve the purpose of your South Carolina correspondent. This was held for two hours every Saturday afternoon, and had a lady superintendent, with her assistant and other teachers, each of the latter having about eight girls under her charge. The school was opened at the appointed hour by the singing of a hymn and reciting the Creed before the short prayers. Then the hands of each girl were held up for inspection to the superintendent, or her assistant, who divided the school between them for this pur- pose. All whose cleanliness was doubtful, were sent into an adjoining room, where basins were provided, and one of the teachers directed their use. SEWING SCHOOL. 113 Bags were made the first thing, by each scholar, for their own use. to contain their thimble, needle-book, cotton and work, and marked with their names. Next, a large apron was made, to be worn during the sewing hours, and afterward put away in the bag. The schol- ars were classified, generally, according to their knowledge of sewing previously, and as they advanced they were promoted to the higher classes. Button holes were considered the most diffi- cult work, and some small premium was offered at the close of the school for the best executed set. A premium of a silver thimble was given each year for the best made garment, or for the greatest improvement in sewing. When a school is first organized, and all are learners, the whole attention will have to be given to the needful directions for the work, but after the scholars have learned to hem fairly, and are engaged upon simpler portions of the garments, the superintendent might read a little story or talk to the children about their home duties. The utmost neatness in regard to 114 A LIFE OF SERVICE. their work must be insisted upon, and faithful- ness in finishing off every part; while habits of order can be taught, by teaching them how to fold up the materials and work before putting them away at the close of the school. After the rudiments of sewing are taught, it is well to begin a garment which will bring them all into use, and it is an incentive to industry to tell them what use is to be made of the finished garment. In very poor communi- ties they may need it greatly themselves, or for a smaller child at home; but when this is not the case, the garment might be given to the missionary box of the parish, or to some case of destitution within its limits. After an hour's sewing, the work was put away and one of the ladies taught the children chants and hymns for the Sunday School and Church. It is well always to draw out all the musical talent in a congregation, and make it available for use in the services of the sanctuary; and to do this, it is better always to select the same hymns for the children's use as are used in the church. Their sweet voices will then be a ready substitute for the ordinary choir when SEWING SCHOOL. 115 circumstances prevent them from leading the musical portions of the service. Darning stockings is a useful art, and donations of partly worn clothing might be solicited from the congregation for experiments in the sewing school. The homely proverb. "A stitch in time saves nine." cannot be too much insisted upon. A great deal of the poverty in many places comes from the want of care and thrift in the use of money, often earned by hard labor. It is astonishing how much poor people waste, and if you can teach their children habits of economy and industry, you will have done much toward elevating them above the want which carelessness, sloth and improvidence, have brought upon the parents. Be patient, gentle, loving and wise in your teaching; and though you may not see the fruit of your own labor, it may bless some happy home many years hence. Try and enlist all of the young ladies whose home duties do not interfere with their helping in the school. If you find them competent, your task will be lightened by their help; but if they are ignorant, careless, and unpunctual. the school will be 116 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. better without their services. If you have many scholars you can allow very little talking, or the confusion will be unpleasant and distract your own and the children's attention from their work. It is important to recollect that most good things grow, and cannot be ready made; so if you are patient, a great deal can come from an humble, unpretending beginning. LETTER XI VISITING THE POOR lOUBTLESS you have often noticed the tendency of some minds to be frightened by a stern fact, and shrink from investigating the details. Thus, statistics state that six- sevenths of all the inhabitants of London are supported by the remaining seventh. When you attempt to grapple with poverty in such alarming proportions, you falter at the prospect, and in dismay think it hopeless to do anything. Loving hearts are guiding wise heads to solve this mighty problem — one of the most difficult for the trials of our faith — and careful study is given to efforts for ameliorating the condition of the poor. Employment societies are taking the place of the old, indiscriminate relief granted to every applicant as long as the funds of the benefactor lasted; and each year additional light is thrown upon the answer to that most 118 A LIFE OF SERVICE. important question, how can we best relieve the wants of the poor without lowering their self- respect, or training up a generation of paupers? It is the part of humility to accept all wise and faithful teaching, and to treasure the lessons experience brings. "Love, and do what thou wilt," says St. Augustine, and if you love poor people you cannot help being an acceptable visitor to them in their homes. It is always better to work as part of a well ordered parish ; and if you have a list given you of families whom it is your especial province to look after, your duty is much simplified. This is no abstract case that need trouble you, but that of Mrs. A- who lives in the next street, is a communicant of the same church, has her children, perhaps, in your class in the Sunday or sewing school, and belongs to the Mothers* Mission. You visit her and find that she has a large family, and life is a hard struggle. Dirt and disorder reign in the poor cottage she calls home; she has a weary, care- worn face, and the children a pale, withered look as if wholesome food was strange to them. The husband has occasional work, but w T astes his VISITING THE POOR. 119 money in rum and tobacco. Your heart sinks as. upon opening the door, the smoke, discomfort, untidiness and disorder which rule within meet your eyes. It is your first visit, and a stranger in such quarters is looked upon somewhat suspiciously. Much good judgment is needed not to seem to notice the confusion that your entrance produces: and it is well to observe, particularly, then, all the rules that good breed- ing inculcates in visiting among friends of your own social standing. Who are the people whom every one wel- comes to their houses, whose visits are looked forward to with interest by each member of the family? Those whose warm hearts overflow with love and sympathy for others, and who manifest, in a thousand little ways, their kindly sympathy for the welfare and comfort of their friends. Just such persons meet with cordial welcome in the houses of the poor. The children will shout with joy if they see Miss B 's face turning the corner of the street, and run forward joyfully to announce her approach. The weary mother feels a ray of joy stealing into her heart, as she hears the step of a true friend. 120 A LIFE OF SERVICE. If you inquire of Miss B how she secured this affection and confidence, she may not recognize the happy secret, that it was love which secured love; but she would probably tell you how sorry she felt for poor Mrs. A , who had such a struggle to get along with her large family, and you could see that she loved them, sympathized with them, and was constantly thinking how she could bring a little lightness into dark, cold lives. Poverty is a cruel thing, and only the grace of God can prevent it from blunting the sensibilities and perverting the moral sense. The two things which the wise Agur asked of the Lord, we also require: "Deny me them not before I die. Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny Thee, and say. who is the Lord? or lest I be poor and steal, and take the Name of my God in vain." Find out the hours when it is most conveni- ent for you to call upon your humble friends, and be careful not to interfere with their meals or morning's duties. If you cannot remember the details of each family on your list, it is well to VISITING THE POOR. 121 keep a little note book of them and a record of each visit you pay them. See that the interval between your visits is not too long, and if your time is well filled up with other duties, take only a few names. Win confidence so that they will tell you of their joys and sorrows, their losses and needs, without your appearing to pry into their affairs. When this is gained you will be able to help them in many ways, and suggest improvements in their household arrangements without seeming to officiously interfere. If you miss the mother from church, or the children from the school, be particular to go immediately to inquire the reason. Serious illness may be prevented by timely relief, and the presence of a judicious friend is doubly welcome in sickness. Find out what is most needed in such cases, and endeavor to supply the need. Some Mothers' Missions keep a chest of household linen and clothing, to lend to their sick members in case of illness when the demand is greater than poor people can meet. Double wrappers, flannel jackets, blankets, quilts, sheets, pillow cases, towels, and under- clothing are made up by the congregation and kept for this purpose. 122 A LIFE OF SEKVICE/ Infants* wardrobes are prepared, and gifts are often received from families whose children have died, to be loaned to poor mothers. See that each article is carefully washed before it is returned to the closet or shelf, and that no infectious disease has been in the family using them. Notice the books and papers that may be lying about where you visit, and try to change a bad class of literature for a better. Some persons have a great regard for anything that is printed; and a parish visitor was once told quite indignantly, when she asked where the peculiar name of one of her Sunday School scholars originated; "Why, I got it out of a book ; did you never hear of Alawinda, the female pirate?" Many girls, in humble life, take the first step in the downward path from reading such books, and the destroyer of souls has no more active agents than those who write and circulate them. Be careful to report to the rector of the parish cases of serious illness among the poor communicants committed to your charge. It is impossible for him to be informed of such VISITING THE POOK. 123 things intuitively: and yet you hear persons say. k, I have been ill for weeks and the rector has not been near the house." when they have taken no means to inform him of the fact. In protracted sickness it is often necessary to give a weekly allowance from the communion alms: and where you are known and loved you may advise upon the best ways of expending this sacred trust. Cultivate a gentle, tender, quiet and respect- ful manner in speaking to poor people. Avoid all bustling, impetuous ways of rushing into their homes, and out again, before they have regained their composure. Good judgment, guided by experience, will teach you to exercise true charity, and "The heart at leisure from itself To soothe and sympathize.'' is a constant suggestion of ways and means to do faithful service to God's poor. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these. ye have done it unto Me.*' LETTER XII ALMSGIVING. fUBLIC sentiment occasionally becomes aroused in right trains of thought; and recently Christian people seem to be awaking to more correct views upon the great subject of stim- ulating and directing the gifts of the faithful. After trying many plans, which, for a time, are partially successful, but soon fall away, much inquiry is being made as to God's plan — the giving of tithes for the support of His worship, the teaching of His children, feeding His poor, beautifying His sanctuary, and spreading abroad His Gospel in the great fields of heathen dark- ness and superstition. Do you realize how much of their substance the Jews were commanded to give to the service of God? Abraham, the father of the faithful, when met by Melchisedec, priest of the Most High God, gave him a "tenth part of all;" and ALMSGIVING. 125 Jacob, his grandson, made a vow. after his wonderful dream at Bethel, when he set up a stone there to be God's altar, and said. "Of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee." When His children had escaped from Egyp- tian bondage, and were encamped in the wilder- ness about Mt. Sinai. God "called Moses up to the top of the mount*' and gave him, amid circumstances of the utmost solemnity and grandeur, the Holy Commandments for their guidance, and minute directions for His worship and their separation from the surrounding heathen. "And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount. . . . and Moses went into the midst of the cloud. . . . and was in the mount forty days and forty nights." The first directions were concerning the offerings for the tabernacle; ,; of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering: and this is the offering which ye shall take of them, gold, and silver, and brass, and blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen .... oil for light, spices for anointing oiL and for sweet 126 A LIFE OF SERVICE. incense, onyx stones, and stones to set in the Ephod and let them make Me a Sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." Thus most careful provision was made from the best and most costly stores, of willing offerings for making the adornment and con- struction of a resting place for the Mighty Lord, who had brought them out of Egypt to be a peculiar people to Himself. For the mainten- ance of the priests who ministered in this sanctuary, the Jew gave his first fruits, about the fiftieth of all his grain. .Forty-eight cities were set aside for the tribe of Levi, and thirteen for the priests, about four thousand acres in all, and the tithe of everything was given for their support. A second tithe was given especially for the priests and Levites at Jerusalem, which might be carried there at the time of the yearly pilgrimages in kind, or, if in money, one-fifth of its value was to be added. There were, besides, ten kinds of offerings — weekly, monthly, yearly, and on special occa- sions. The salary of the priests w r as the portion of sacrifices reserved from the altar, the first fruit of the crops, everything devoted to the ALMSGIVING. 127 Lord, the firstlings of all cattle, the first fleece of all sheep, the redemption money of the first born, a tenth of the Levites' tithes, a fifth of the trespass offerings, and a fourth of the fruit of all planted trees. Thus about a fourth part of the property of every Jew was given to the Lord. The scribes and Pharisees, in the days of our blessed Lord, followed every precept of this law; they fasted twice a week, and gave tithes of all they possessed; and our righteousness. He told us. must exceed theirs. Does it equal it now? The law was "a shadow of good things to come;" do we. who have entered fully into the enjoyment of the substance, show our gratitude by larger offerings than those of the Jews? The Mighty Lord we worship is the same yesterday, to-day. and forever, and the things that pleased Him in the days of the patriarchs and prophets, please Him now. To reverence His Sanctuary, to make glorious the earthly house of His abode, to care for His priests, to relieve His poor, and then to bring free-will offerings when we seek His courts, is as acceptable now. 128 A LIFE OF SERVICE. &s in the days of the ''open vision*' of the seventy elders of Israel. But. you may say, "I am poor, I have very little money, how can I do these things ?" The silver and the gold belong to the Lord, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. He giveth, or withholdeth, as seemeth good in His sight, and in everything that befalls, the highest good of His faithful children is promoted. "If thou hast little, do thy diligence gladly to give of that little,*' and do it systematically, according to God's commandment. The original meaning of the word religion is rule; and if you w T ish to lead a religious life, a life of true service to God and man, you must order it by the rule of God's law. The tenth part of your substance is the very least this law demands, and you should be as faithful and rigid in paying God's part as you would a debt to your fellow man. To do this you must be careful in your expenditure, and, whatever your income may be. never live fully up to it. Take out God "s portion first, and ask His help and guidance in wisely disposing of the remainder. If this simple rule were followed, the treasury ALMSGIVING. 129 of the Lord would be full to overflowing, and His Church would "arise and shine."' Every- where the field seems ripe for harvest, but the reaper must stay his hand, because the inhabi- tants of Meroz are greatly increased, and they come "not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. 5 ' Knowing how carefully you have been taught reverence, and how T instinctively a heart touched by the Spirit of God cherishes it, I need only warn you to endeavor to preserve it wherever your lot is cast. Some communities have a habit that, to devout minds, seems shockingly irreverent; they speak of the offer- ings made in God's house as if they were extorted by men, whisper and laugh while they are gathered, and, giving nothing themselves, seem to consider it an amusing joke that others should believe it not only a duty, but a pleasure, to bring an offering whenever they enter the courts of the Lord. I do not know that it is even well to speak of these things to the guilty persons unless they are young enough for you to have authority to teach them. A clergyman can do a great deal 130 A LIFE OF SERVICE. by explaining God's plan, and by throwing as much reverence into the reading of the offer- tory sentences as their solemn import demands; and if the children in the Sunday School are rightly taught, they may remember it in after years. Most thoughtful parents, above the ranks of the extremely poor, give their children some weekly or monthly allowance, that they can spend as they please. Urge your scholars to keep, regularly, the tenth of this as the Lord's part. It is His blessing alone that maketh rich and addeth no sorrow thereto, and faithful obedience to His laws always brings this. The early fathers of the Church taught that one-tenth of the income, and one-seventh of our time, was the least of God's requirement, and for fifteen hundred years this was the universal rule. What prosperity would bless our land and Church if we were to return to this happy obedience, and no longer rob God of His tithes and offerings! Then might the dark waters of financial ruin and national disgrace, which seem ready to engulph us, be rolled back, and the Lord give His people the blessing of peace. LETTER XIII CULTURE. What are the aims which are at the same time duties in life? The perfecting of ourselves and the happiness of others. Jean Paul. For some men think that the gratification of curiosity is the end of knowledge; some the necessity of supporting themselves by their knowledge; but the real use of all knowledge is this: that we should dedicate that reason which was given us by God to the use and advantage of men. Lord Bacon. 17EW things are more needless than discus- - sion as to the relative strength of mind given to men and women. The Scriptures give, everywhere, preeminence to man and teach that woman's manifest inferiority is part of the punishment our first mother drew upon her daughters by yielding to the temptation in the garden. She "said that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise; she took of the fruit thereof, did eat, and gave also 132 A LIFE OF SERVICE. unto her husband with her." The same short- sightedness and refusal to look beyond the immediate consequences of disobedience has distinguished many of Eve's descendants. The great thinkers, the explorers, the pio- neers in the path of thought, the painters who can move the being to its hidden depths and make the lifeless canvas speak of joy, revenge and eternity, have been men. Who formed the perfect beauty of the Parthenon and hung aloft the mighty dome of St. Peter's, where all men go to wonder and worship? Even as they kneel at the shrine of the Omnipotent One there, they must mingle with their thoughts of the majesty of the Creator, those of the magic power He gave to the mighty genius of the Buonarrotti. Who are the poets, the great master-singers, whose songs have come down to us along the track of ages, whose thoughts that breathe and words that burn, "haunt us as eagles do the mountain air?" And whose hands strike with mystic power the chords of music until the sweet, sad, passionate melody rings through all space? Man — "the heir of all ages, in the foremost files of time." CULTURE, 133 Because men can never be angels, does it keep them from rising to the height of their being and cultivating to the utmost the high powers God has given them? And so every woman, in her proper sphere, can draw all the latent strength of her nature out by true, dutiful and patient culture. You had, under the judicious oversight of faithful parents, the inestimable benefit of a careful, early education; and because now you hope to give yourself up more fully than family duty has before allowed to the service of God and His Church, do not think you must neglect opportunities for self-inrprovement and mental culture. Try and secure an hour or two daily for faithful study, either of the languages, mathematics, or some of the sciences. Plain sewing enters largely into the lives of most women, unless they are wealthy. Try and make it less uninteresting by keeping a book open before you and study while you sew. I have seen Hebrew and German grammars propped against the sewing machine, and the seam was no less beautiful, because the operator at the same time learned a conjugation, or had 134 A LIFE OF SERVICE. light thrown upon a disputed reading of a well-known text. Where you have many subjects for anxious thought — as you will constantly for the welfare of others — learn to put them aside for awhile and find rest and refreshment in a good book. Study history, and learn the great facts of humanity in all their thousand modifications in the story of the past. Try to rend the veil which poetry, passion, and partisan prejudice and pride have thrown over many events, and read them in their true signification by the light of the teaching of God's Word, and the revelation of His plan in the record. Classify your kno.wledge and endeavor to add to it constantly. Truth is a boundless ocean, and, as Sir Isaac Newton said, "we can but pick up a pebble or two along the shore. v But the fair stones are very precious to the fortunate finder; the search is ennobling, and the powers of the mind develop daily with their use. Take the measure of your own mind, gauge its capabilities, learn its weaknesses, and find in what points it most needs strengthening. If your feelings are keen, your imagination CULTURE. 135 active, and natural sensibilities quick to respond to the touch of the beautiful, you will find in study, discipline, food, and training. Take some one era in history and read all you can find to throw light upon its characters. Divest yourself of any bias your early teachers or reading may have given you. and study with clear, truth-seeking eyes. Do not dethrone your childish heroes, because later days will show you that they, like all men. had their weak spots and limitations, and be willing to allow that the Luthers and Cromwells. and even the Henry VIII's. had their noble points, and helped us to many of the blessings of the freedom we now enjoy. If you are obliged to wait for unpunctual people, as is often the case when engagements take you much with others, try and use up the fragments of time by having a book at hand, and study and read a little. Beside the real gain all new ideas afford, it is good for the temper, and prevents impatience or fretting over the deten- tion. Be careful not to become so absorbed in the study as to forget the duty at hand, and in pondering over the needs of the past, neglect 136 A LIFE OF SERVICE. the pressing call of the present day and hour. An abstracted, pre-occupied manner is a great barrier to usefulness, and it is well to be always ready to lay aside any subject of thought, however engrossing or interesting, to attend to the little wants, wishes, or sorrows of other people. Study those sciences which have a practical bearing, and particularly the laws which govern the human frame; learn how fearfully and wonderfully we are made, and that how to keep a sound mind in a sound body is a high achievement of intellect and good sense. Christian art and architecture is a subject too wide in its range to touch upon now; but modern writers have thrown about it such a wealth of words, and painted its treasures in language so beautiful, that study in the words of Ruskin, Hammerton. and others is almost forgotten in delight. By the careful use of the pictures which photography places within the reach of most educated persons, you can compare the glowing descriptions with shadows of many of the originals Learn to know a few pictures well, if your time is limited, and study the CULTURE. 137 meaning of all the symbols or details introduced. Good courses of lectures are very improving when you have studied the subject beforehand. Unless there is some knowledge of it in the mind, nothing but striking eloquence will fix the points in the memory during the rapid summary necessary in a lecture. Fragmentary, or half- f orgotten treasures, will be revived by the touch of a skilful speaker, and will furnish, as it were, nails upon which to hang new items of information. Knowledge is not only power, but it is often the source of most enlarged charity. When we learn to read human nature aright and see its history, its power, its weakness, its temptations in all ages, we understand, sympathize, and love far better than when our daily life seems to us a new. strange thing, and the faults and failings of those about us unprecedented and alarming. Ignorance is generally uncharitable, and the more we know, the better we can love, and execute x^lansfor the benefit of those we love. LETTER XIV. SENSITIVENESS. Time was, I shrank from what was right, For fear of what was wrong; I would not brave the sacred fight Because the foe was strong But now I cast that finer sense And sorer shame aside; Such dread of sin was indolence; Such aim at Heaven was pride, J. H. Newman. HAT is said by a recent writer of sentiment is true of many other things in human nature: "Sentiment is the pure and healthy root implanted in man's heart by a beneficent Creator; sentimentality is the sickly plant which his ingenious perverseness has raised from the noble stock.'' So of sensitiveness; it is a quality bound up with much that is good, delightful, and consoling; but it is capable of being perverted to an enemy who can mar our lives by embittering our thoughts and destroying SENSITIVENESS. 1 39 our usefulness. It is the occasion at once of our purest joy and acutest pain. To be instantly- alive to impressions of beauty in the natural, moral, and spiritual world, brings vivid pleasure; but such things are often fleeting, and we must grasp them quickly, or they "Fade into the light of common day." The rosy flush of dawn, the shadows of the eventide, and the purple after-glow lingering on the hill tops, the clear sparkle of the mountain stream, the tender green of the opening buds, and snowy purity of the blossoms of Spring thrill every nerve with gladness, and to the sensitive heart bring healing and peace. Tokens of a Fathers love and thoughtful kindness to the souls He has made and would teach, guide, enlarge, and comfort, fall thick about our path, and some natures find compen- sation for many wounds in catching their fair proportions and studying their beauty. But "Hearts that vibrate sweetest pleasure, Thrill the deepest notes of woe:" and it is well for them, by the exercise of good sense and sound judgment, to deaden this sensitiveness to many forms of mental suffering. 140 A LIFE OF SERVICE. A parish visitor in deep distress of mind at the sorrows of the poor, sought counsel of an aged clergyman noted for his success in labouring among them. He gave, in a few plain words, the needed direction to overwrought feeling. "Go home now. bathe, and sleep for an hour, and do not enter another very poor person's house until you have hardened your heart.' 1 Do not waste in idle feeling, the strength that might relieve the suffering; and let the keen sympathy take a practical view always, and devise and execute immediate plans for comforting sorrow and relieving distress. There are cases in which man's hand is impotent, and God alone can help His suffering children. Do not brood over these in mournful musing, but pray to Him, "whose tender mercy is over all His works," and "whose ear is ever open to the cry of faith." We mast always remember that this is God's world. He permits evil in it, and its consequences, for some wise purpose above our limited powers of compre- hension, and we must trust Him to accomplish His own plans and bring good to its final triumph. Some of Carlisle's rugged rhymes SENSITIVENESS. 141 contain much right thinking upon this subject, and you will find them useful when these things prey upon your spirits unduly. "What shapest thou here at the world? Tis shapen long ago; Thy Maker shaped it and thought it be even so; Thy lot is appointed go follow its 'hest; Thy journey's "begun, thou must move and not rest For sorrow and care cannot alter thy case, Tis running, not raging, will win thee the race."' The sensitiveness described by Dr. Newman in the heading to this letter, is the same feeling- manifested differently, and is a great barrier in the way of true and faithful service. How continually do you hear it said. ; 'I would gladly help in that good work: but people will talk; it seems so officious, or so arrogant in me to attempt anything of the kind: I have not the courage to endure the comment it will cause.'* etc. First be sure it is a right thing to do, that family duty gives you leisure to attend to it; be careful to do it humbly and prayerfully, and then you can know that the shrinking is either indolence or pride. Disarm criticism by gentle- ness, quietness and humility, and accept counsel with gratitude for good intentions, if you cannot follow it. Learn from the thrust of your enemies 142 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. — if you must have them — all the weak spots in your armour, and endeavour to strengthen and repair them. Idle people are generally critical, and the energy that should be expended in labour, goes to the harsh comments which sometimes disturb the peace of the faithful labourer. Ignorance is often a captious critic, and fancies that it is assuming the part of wisdom to suggest faults, and condemn methods it does not understand. When you are troubled in this way, deaden your sensibilities to prevent wounds, and quietly sift out the idle and ignorant criticism, ignore the malicious, and take heed to the grains of truth and good sense that may be found among them all. Perhaps the late King of Italy — Victor Emmanuel — was one of the most successful rulers the world has seen in this century. With a single eye to the unity of his kingdom, he had rare wisdom in selecting his advisers, and using them to serve his purpose. We are told that he employed secretaries to read in foreign journals every comment upon his administration, partic- ularly those whose interests were opposed to SENSITIVENESS. 143 his, and to translate and preserve them for his daily study. And "Kino- Honestman." as his people loved to call him. learned wisdom from friend and foe. There is another kind of sensitiveness which. unless it proceeds from ill-health, is radically wrong. If you are always thinking that people mean to wound you, to slight you, to say unkind things, and hold you up to ridicule, your body or mind is in an unhealthy state. If the former, consult the best medical adviser you know, and follow his directions implicitly; you are over- wearied, if not ill, and rest will probably bring- back the right tone to your mind. There is a great deal of good feeling and kindness in the world, and many people, who are too much occupied to go out of their way to say or do anything unkind, will often neglect their own affairs to do a generous deed. The wise "Friends in Council" gives a true prescription for such sensitiveness: "Humility is a cure for many a needless heartache." It is a very healthy occupation to wipe out old scores constantly, and not lay up bad feeling 144 A LIFE OF SERVICE. for what was, perhaps, an altogether uninten- tional offence. A third part of the alienations in families and among friends arise from such misunderstandings, and might be permanently healed by the exercise of a little good sense, prudence, and Christian charity. This broad, beautiful and endearing virtue includes the whole cure for such sensitiveness as I would warn you against. If the new translation of the Bible should supersede our present version, — which seems now unlikely — let us hope that its translators will reconsider some points and eave us "charity" in all its fulness. Its substi- tute seems painfully inadequate to the task, "Charity suffereth long. . . .seeketh not her own ....beareth all things. .. .hopeth all things, endureth all things." If you are always looking out for chance stabs, you will be likely to receive them; but if you calmly pat everything of the kind aside by the stern exercise of reason, you will rob them of half their sting. Do not brood over them, but divert your mind with some engrossing employment, and do not mention them to other people. Take the first opportunity you find to SENSITIVENESS. 145 do some act of kindness to the person who has wounded you. not ostentatiously, but simply, quietly, and effectively. Occasionally you will meet with bright, witty spirits, who will allow their repartee to become malicious, and throw poisoned arrows among their friends. Do not return their favours in kind, but try and divert their course from some sensitive soul you know they will particularly wound, and use your wit to blunt their sharpness and divest them of their malice. The fashionable banter tolerated in good society in these days is an odious thing. You will find that those w 7 ho use it most offensively, are generally extremely sensitive when the sharp edge is turned towards themselves. People who tease, can the least bear teasing, and the most sensitive people think little of other's wounds. But do not let these things move you from the path of duty; say w T ith the tender heart who wrote our initial lines: "So when my Saviour calls, I rise And calmly do my best; Leaving to Him, with silent eyes Of hope and fear, the rest." LETTER XV. CONTROVERSY. "Fear God" has made many men pious; the proofs of the existence of God have made many men atheists. From the defiance springs the attack; the advocate begets in the hearer a wish to pick holes; and men are almost led on from a desire to contradict the doctor, to the desire to contradict the doctrine. Joubert. TITOU have heard it said in excuse for religious 2-A- controversy, that water, unless frequently stirred, becomes stagnant, and that we are exhorted by St. Jude to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints. I do not say that this may not be so — though truth has an inherent vitality, derived from Him whose breath it is, that prevents stagnation; and St. Paul's contention seems a different thing from modern controversy. A valiant knight, gifted with many graces of nature, spirit, religion and culture, can, perhaps, engage in it without perverting his sweetness of CONTROVERSY. 1-47 disposition, losing his dignity or compromising his piety, though you rarely see it clone. In some unguarded moment, a flaw is found in the armour, even of him who battles for the Truth: and the adversary's lance pierces the temper, if nothing- else. The fair face of Truth is often hidden in the fray, and her voice silent in the tumult of the conflict for her rights. If it is well for any one to engage in religious contro- versy, it is certainly not our province. A woman's voice should be too low for such an arena, as her arm is too weak to wield the weapons it requires, and her mind, generally untrained by logic and the sterner studies which fit men for the task, cannot grapple with the foes that the strife will raise seemingly from the dust of the battle-field. Mrs. Jameson says truly: that "there are no such self-deceivers as those who think they reason when they only feel." and this is peculiarly a woman's temptation. The very warmth of her emotions and the intensity of her likes and dislikes, the strength of her prejudices, and the sensitiveness of her whole nature, should warn her alwavs to avoid a war 148 A LIFE OF SERVICE. of words. Declamation is not argument, and abundant emphasis upon strings of high sound- ing adjectives is powerless for conviction. And then, too, women are perilously apt to confound the doctrine with the doctor, and fancy that the former is disproved when its advocate is disposed of as "a horrid wretch!" A dignified lady of the old courtly school of manners, when asked the secret of her success in society, said, playfully, "I never discuss — I listen." Because this is one of the most difficult accomplishments we have to acquire, we are utterly unfitted for controversy. A woman's mind will often, by intuition, guess a secret that man is painfully toiling up logical steps to unravel, and her bird-like faculties may sometimes pick out a diamond from chance places, while her slower friend is washing the sands in careful search for it on the shores of Truth. This renders her impatient of the surer, safer process, and forgetful of the counsel of the wise King, "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." The rule of quiet obedience and unques- tioning faith, is the only one that will give you CONTROVERSY. 149 peace in discharge of often painful duty for the poor, the sick, and the suffering; so. while personally you shun engaging in controversy, beware of the society of those whose every thought tends to argument. Take your stand upon the Bible, the Creeds, and the testimony of the undivided Church in the early Councils, and believe the promise that whosever doeth His will shall know of the doctrine. Particu- larly avoid all disputes about the ''holy mys- teries" which Christ has ordained "as pledges of His love, and for a continual remembrance of His death, to our great and endless comfort." Think of them in the words of Scripture. instead of through the mist of obscurity with which the labours of controversialists have clouded its words. Make a harmony of the record of the four evangelists and St. Paul upon the subject; and if doubts will be suggested by arguments you seem compelled to hear, solve them by this unfailing weapon — the Word of God. The mysteries which angels desire to look into might well be left sacred from the strife of tongues; but if this cannot be. guard your own 150 A LIFE OF SERVICE. reverence of thought, word, and act, in approach- ing them, and say always, "Thou hast spoken; I believe, though the oracle be sealed,*' Accustom yourself to the limitations which meet you in every direction, and that are a necessity in a state of discipline and probation. You do not understand many things, but you can always do what is better — have faith in God, and obey the aphorism of Sir Philip Sydney, "Reason cannot show itself more reasonable than to leave reasoning on things above reason." In the Church Councils and Congresses, much excellent speaking assumes controversial aspect. Try and cultivate a judicial frame of mind and see both sides. Remember the contest over the shield of the knight, of which one side was silver and the other of gold, so that each party fought for the truth as he saw it; but, alas, neither could see both sides. Be care- ful, also, that your taste for the beautiful, the harmonious and the graceful, does not lead you away from the side of right. A courteous, well bred man, "upon whose lips the mystic bee hath dropped the honey of persuasion," whose voice is governed by the CONTROVERSY. 151 rules of elocution, whose accent is polished by ripe culture, whose periods are rounded by rhetoric while they are dictated by reverence, true piety and sincere feeling, has an immense advantage over a rough, uncouth speaker, whose gestures annoy, whose voice and accent are unpolished and provincial, and whose egotism overleaps the boundaries of polite usage and good taste. Yet. after all. the blunt orator may have found the gem. the priceless gem of truth, while the acute schoolman may be wandering among shadows of his own creating. Culture, eloquence, good taste, gentleness, candor, reverence and earnestness are all gifts and graces to be desired, and whose attainment is worth much effort; but a strong, native genius can sometimes do without them, and the ring of the clear metal will sound above them all. The great champions for faith have been obliged to engage in many fierce controversies, and it is right to value their services. That grand spectacle of "Athanasius against the world." proclaiming "the Catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity,** is not a solitary instance in the Church's 152 A LIFE OF SERVICE. history. Doubtless, then, as in the time when Elijah said, "I, even I, only remain a prophet of the Lord," He who seeth in secret could say, "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal." But they held the faith in secret and in fear; and, as when the giant of Gath defied the armies of the living God, but a single "youth, ruddy and of a fair countenance." was found to accept his challenge and go forth to the combat. A recent writer, in speaking of the men who settled the-foundations of our American branch of the Church, lamented their narrowness and intimated that their main idea was to hedge in "a snug little Zion of their own." It was noticed in deprecating this disparagement of their labours, that it was owing to their faith- fulness and zeal that we had now any Zion left to us. We cannot judge how necessary some of those fierce controversies were in the past, and should not undervalue the good intentions of many who engaged in them; but we can accept the result without reviving the old issues, and rejoice that, the strife being ended, united labour is possible as never before. LETTER XVI. EIGHT JUDGMENT. Judge of yourself by the good you might do, and neglect; and of others by the evil they might do, and omit; and your judgment will be poised between too much indulgence for yourself and too much severity on others. Lavater. You should forgive many things in others, but nothing in yourself. Ansonius. ^pHEEE are few places where you will find it ^- possible to do faithful service alone; and concert of action with others, to be free from irritation, demands the constant exercise of right and charitable judgment. The most successful parish work is that done under the authority of the rector, or by persons acting by his appointment. In this case the plans are matured in private and the details only entrusted to subordinates. Thus an immense amount of friction is prevented, and when the plans are 154 A LIFE OF SEEVICE. wisely laid according to the teaching of experi- ence, and are not the impracticable visions of a dreamer, the smoothness of the machinery obviates much waste of time, strength, and speech. But these happy parishes are unfortunately not common, and hap-hazard methods of administration require the utmost prudence and careful thought, to prevent unseemly dissension among those who do the actual work. The actual workers are seldom consulted in time for efficient action, but often at the eleventh hour of the working day are told that it was supposed they knew they were expected to make the necessary arrangements. Haste produces nervousness — and this often impatience and irritability; then harsh judg- ments and peevish words are too apt to follow. If you have been accustomed to such a state of things it may not seem strange to you, and the impression prevails that these are essential elements of Church work, for excellent results are often obtained in spite of the constant jar. Earnestness in one or two people always produces wonderful effects, but the wear that EIGHT JUDGMENT. 155 want of system entails is great. It is not often in the power of a woman, unless she occupies by relationship to those in authority a sort of semi- official capacity, to produce a change, except in a limited degree, in the manner of working a parish. But it is always in her province to pour oil on troubled waters, and by quietness, gentleness, and unobtrusive faithfulness, to make the best of indolence, carelessness, and forget fulness. If you have a right judgment by the gift of nature, you will almost by intuition see things in their true light. Among uneducated persons this will often appear strikingly, and you will find that poor people understand its value. Its possessor is a sort of oracle in the neighbour- hood: disputed questions, and even family quarrels, will be proposed to them for solution and settlement, and you will wonder at the authority and influence that is exercised. When this judgment is taught by deep spiritual insight — the gift alone of the Holy Spirit — it is an invaluable possession: but constant prayer and watchfulness will correct the hasty action that often proceeds from want of the natural gift. 156 A LIFE OF SERVICE. Christian people should temper their judg- ments by charity, and be very careful not to impute wrong motives to those who are trying, perhaps with many hindrances, to lead a Christian life. Many errors are the result of ignorance, inexperience, and want of thought; and it is wrong judgment to impute them to selfishness, indolence, and deliberate trifling. In many cases where the necessity of the hour does not require immediate decision, it is best to suspend judgment, and be careful not to allow any personal feeling to unduly prejudice your mind. Many things that are not morally wrong in themselves may be so to certain persons and in special places. Half of the controversy about these things would be prevented, if both parties would only allow this oft-stated truth. One thinks dancing wrong, though he seldom, if ever, sees persons dance, and knows nothing of its grace, beauty, healthfulness, and attraction for young people. Families, and even commu- nities, are shaken by the harsh judgments of those who are incompetent to form any judg- ment in the matter from ignorance, prejudice, EIGHT JUDGMENT. 157 and want of sympathy with the high spirits of youth. Be very careful, then, in condemning other people's amusements, unless you know that they are positively sinful in themselves, or the occasion of such constant and widespread evil that you cannot be mistaken. Persons will condemn with the utmost harshness dancing at evening parties, but think nothing of the wine, punch, and egg-nogg that are allowed to circulate freely at their own entertainments, where boys are lured into the path that leads to untold misery for their friends and families, and to ruin of body and soul for themselves. Among many singular instances of what you may call judicial blindness, I shall never forget the triumph with which an excellent woman announced that no child of hers had ever danced, and in the next breath asked her beautiful daughter to give a young man calling upon her, some strong punch. In answer to a quiet word in private, begging her not to give, at least to this particular friend, such refresh- ment, she said, ''but it is Christmas and my children must have it." 158 A LIFE OF SERVICE. Thus the holy festival of the Nativity, celebrated by the Feast of Christ's broken Body and shed Blood in the morning, was profaned by drunken revels called "keeping Christmas" before the evening. Two sons had gone down dishonoured to drunkards' graves, one was fast reeling onward on the same oft-trodden road, and their mother smiled blandly and put the poisoned cup to other people's lips, and thought dancing the worst of social sins! To attain to a "right judgment in all things," as we pray at Whitsuntide, you must learn to see both sides of a question. Truth is many-sided, and it requires time, experience, and pray erful thought often to answer Pilate's question, "What is truth?" We have not only to hear both sides patiently, but to be careful that no prejudice, passion or party feeling warp our own mind during the hearing, and distort the rays of light that should come through a colourless medium. Hasty judgments are rarely right judgments on account of this natural prepossession for our own side. At the best "We see but dimly through the fogs and vapours Of these our earthly damps;'' RIGHT JUDGMENT. 159 and if the secrets of hearts could be laid open to us, we would find many things to temper the harshness of our criticism upon our fellows. Forgive many things that you cannot excuse, and remember Burns' advice: "Then at the balance let's be mute, We never can adjust it: What's done we partly may compute, We know not what's resisted." In judging our own errors and faults, the temptation is toward too great leniency, though if the mind allows itself to become morbid by dwelling too long upon little failures, we may be harsh in self-condemnation beyond the require- ments of the case. The wisdom that cometh from above is the only security against this conceit of our own powers, or the paralyzing effects of undue depreciation of our right intentions; and this alone can help us to first cast out the beam out of our own eye, and give us the clear sight needed, if we attempt to cast out the mote from our brother's eye. LETTER XVII. THE BIBLE CLASS. ^pOEIE four years between the ages of sixteen and ^ twenty are those during which it is most difficult to secure young people to the Church and Sunday school. Unless they are constantly watched and guarded then, they are apt to fall under the influence of careless, idle, or wicked companions, and wander far from God and the restraining teachings of the Church. Even the children of religious people, unless strictly taught and prayerfully trained in obedience to the rubrics of the Prayer-Book, will be restless under the discipline of the Sunday school, and often at this most critical time in their lives are only kept there by the command of their parents, or the affection they may entertain for a faithful teacher. THE BIBLE CLASS. 161 Let the teacher of such use every effort in her power to retain her scholars in the school. Visit them, if possible, in their homes and work-shops, and try and interest them in the decorations and adornment of the Church and Sunday school rooms. It is always well to enlist all the strong feelings of youth in behalf of their school, and not only to make them feel pleasure, but pride, in its order, beauty and prosperity. Esprit de corps is an excellent thing, and if from the time children enter the infant school it is constantly inculcated, when they are ready for the Bible class they will have thoroughly learned the lesson. Where the members of your class have come up regularly through all the grades of the school, the duty of the teacher is much sim- plified, but this will probably not be the case with half your scholars. Many parents allow their children to come to Sunday school so unpunc- tually and irregularly that they derive very little benefit from it ; and you will often find boys and girls in a Bible class, who, though they have been nominally members of the school for many 162 A LIFE OF SERVICE. years, are more ignorant of the first principles of religious truth than a well-taught child of six years of age. Parents are the best instructors, and when these heartily cooperate with faithful teachers the happiest results are secured; but these hints are hardly needed in such cases. An experience of Sunday Schools in many places, and of many different classes, has been that faithful parental instruction is rare, and, even among religious people, great ignorance of the fundamental principles of the Bible and Prayer Book is too common. This is particularly the case among boys; there often seems an almost impenetrable wall of stolid indifference erected in their minds against even the facts of the Bible, and to a new teacher they often affect more ignorance than they really possess. If you are patient and prayerful, you can, in time, pierce this hard crust, and then the truths taught with so little seeming appreciation will spring up and bear fruit. Do not be discouraged if you have to repeat the same things each week; try to make the constant repetition THE BIBLE CLASS. 183 interesting by faithful study, and give new facts for the bright, attentive, and thoughtful pupils. In reading over the appointed lesson in Scripture, many plans have been tried to secure the attention of all the scholars. In a class of twelve young people over the age of sixteen, when the authority of the parents has not been exerted to secure the preparation of the lesson at home, you will find, perhaps, two or three ' who have looked at it beforehand, but know very little about it: the same number have made careful preparation, and the rest cannot even tell where the lesson is. These are the idle, mischievous or careless ones, whose attention you must strive to secure. Generally, they read so imperfectly and stumble so painfully over the names and longer words, that the other members of the class will laugh at them, or allow their attention to wander. The most successful plan has seemed to read over the appointed lesson yourself to them aloud first. Ask them to observe particularly if you give the proper accent, emphasis and pronunciation to every word, and if each 164 A LIFE OF SERVICE. member of the class gets a true idea of the meaning of the text. Then, if you occupy a separate room, and can do so without disturbing others, let them all read the lesson together. After this let them read it by verses in turn. I have known this way of reciting the lesson to arrest the attention of those who were most careless before, and the three repetitions are sufficient to enable all but the dullest pupil to answer the questions upon it. In teaching young people w T hose minds have been disciplined by study in good day schools, you will, of course, be able to take a wider range and will need more careful preparation for your instruction. Study the lesson thoroughly your- self, and write out the exposition you draw from the best authorities accessible to you. Shun all controversy, and if members of the class intro- duce objections, tell them quietly, but concisely, the arguments for the truth. Remember that the Bible was given to us to teach the things that belong to the salvation of the soul, not science, or merely human learning. Its language is optical like that of common life, not the exact diction of trained experts in THE BIBLE CLASS. 165 Nature's laws. Study scientific objections, that you may be able to give a reason for the faith that is in you, and remember that some of the most learned scientists have been humble Christians.. Galen, Copernicus, Kepler, Faraday and Newton read deeply the secret things of Nature, and threw light upon many of her wonderful laws; yet they brought their know- ledge in all lowliness to the foot of the Cross and craved the mercy to be found there. The epitaph upon the tombstone of Coperni- cus, in St. John's of Freuenberg, is: u Not the grace bestowed on St. Paul do I ask; not the favor shown to St. Peter do I crave; but that which Thou didst grant the robber on the Cross do I implore." Mr. Keble thought that ladies' teaching was often most effective for boys, — "It aroused,'* he said, "the dormant chivalry in them." To develop and retain this sentiment you must treat them with the utmost courtesy and gentleness, and never let your reproof be such as could be ascribed to personal feeling. Be very careful not to betray any irritation, even if you discover deep-laid plans to annoy you, to 166 A LIFE OF SERVICE. trip you in statements, or to show off apparent discrepancies in Scripture. It is generally best to give the simplest and most natural interpre- tation that Church commentators set forth in explanation of the Gospel. Do not strive for originality, but be contented with understand- ing and applying other people's thought. There is much that is beautiful in the symbolism' of the Bible; its numerals and its oriental figures have deep meaning, only drawn forth by diligent study: but beware of strained and fanciful interpretation, and particularly of dwelling upon any one impractical point to the exclusion of all else. A well-balanced mind is one of the most desirable graces which philosophy teaches us to acquire, but it can soon be destroyed if we allow it to dwell too long upon any one subject, even of religious truth. Who has not seen people whose usefulness was impaired, if not wholly ruined, by talking and teaching the doctrine of the second Advent of our blessed Lord, and the obligations of Christians to strive for a "higher life," to the exclusion of the thousand thoughts, motives, and duties so abundantly presented in THE BIBLE CLASS. 167 the Word of God? Live always like those who wait and watch for their Lord, and believe that "if He shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so. blessed are those servants." If you believe that the branch of the "Holy Catholic Church** to which you belong, retains the faith once delivered to the Saints in apostolic purity and practice, love it, teach its doctrines, and uphold them in their grandeur, simplicity and truth to your scholars. Let others who mock at the fair Bride of the Lamb point out the spots of earthly defilement which they may imagine soil her white raiments; but let not the children rend them from the gracious mother because the adversary is strong. Speak rever- ently of "Her sweet communions, solemn vows. Her hymns of love and praise;'' and by precept and example teach your pupils to rejoice that the lot is fallen unto us in a fair ground; yea, that we have a goodly heritage. LETTER XVIII. MANNERS. Manners are the happy ways of doing things; each one a stroke of genius or of love, now repeated and hardened into usage. They form at last a rich varnish, with which the routine of life is washed and its details adorned. Emerson. X WISH I could coin a few emphatic words to 1 impress upon you the great importance of cultivating pleasant manners. The best inten- tions, the most generous, unselfish and praise- worthy efforts often fail in producing the right effect upon others, because the cold, harsh manner in which they are made chills, offends, and often hopelessly alienates those whom they are designed to benefit. There is no reproach you hear more constantly brought against women who are really giving their lives to good works, than that their freezing manners frighten the timid, and disgust the very people they ought to conciliate. MANNERS. 169 I am sorry to acknowledge that often the reproach is well founded; and some noted examples of whole-hearted devotion to the wel- fare of the poor and the suffering, have made "spots in their feasts of charity" by the careless. rude way in which they at first repulsed every one who approached them. The harm done to the cause to which they were really sacrific- ing time, strength, and means, is great. Young people say. "I will not have anything to do with that charity: it makes people so disagreeable." "I cannot join that society, though I approve of it heartily, because I could not be in the room with that cross Mrs. D ." They will shrink from even the most necessary consultation because of the quick, sharp replies that it will evoke. Unfortunately, bad manners are more con- tagious than good; and. as Emerson says, others "stereotype the lesson they have learned into a mode." until to the stranger it seems intolerable. I would earnestly beg you to avoid catching this tone, and contracting this habit in your life of service. A gracious act is twice as gracious if done in a graceful manner, and much of the 170 A LIFE OF SERVICE. ingratitude which is returned for kindness, is due to the way in which the benefit w T as conferred. Be true, but express yourself kindly ; be sincere, but never harsh, in expressing truth. An African chief, in requesting an English traveller to have a missionary sent to his tribe, asked particularly that he should be a gentleman. Savages and children are usually very suscep- tible to the influence of good manners; and> perhaps, one great secret of the wonderful charm the martyr Bishop of Melanesia — Coleridge Pattieson — bore about from island to island of his widely extended diocese, was the high-bred courtesy with which he treated the dusky objects of his love and care. He loved them, he taught them, and gave his life in seeking to win new islands to the fold; but he never forgot, by constant gentleness, to show his love. It is not always easy to do this. Difficulties and annoyances meet us everywhere. You must often expect perverseness, stupidity, ingratitude, and even maliciousness from the recipients of your bounty, and unkindness, captiousness, suspicion, envy, and all unchari- tableness from others. But you mus| learn to MANNERS. 171 be very patient in unraveling and removing difficulties, and in restraining all expressions of irritation when your plans are frustrated, and offences are repeated. A parish visitor, whose district contained some of the worst families in the town, made a daily call upon one in which a child was ill of fever. The grandfather, a surly ruffian, whose rugged face bore the impress of his life of crime, had a large dog, only a little less fierce than himself. This was loosened regularly, and flew at the lady as she descended the steps into the basement area, grasping her cloak, and pre- venting further progress. A naturally fearless disposition repressed all exclamations of fright; and, by speaking very gently, the dog would relax his hold, and she could enter the house. Not the least notice was ever taken of the manifest unkindness that prompted the deed, or of the signal that produced the assault; and delicacies were brought for the sufferer at each visit. At the end of a week the dog was withdrawn, and the old man would take the pipe from his mouth to reply to the visitor's salutation. 172 A LIFE OF SERVICE. This is the way in which all annoyances should be met; avoid all notice of the intention, and preserve a serene and unruffled demeanor amid scenes that produce inward storms. "Forewarned is forearmed," says the proverb. If you expect such things, they need not startle you. Let your soul dwell aloft amid high thoughts, and upon serene heights of happiness, where the Grace of God feeds those who trust in His mercy. To lead others into the same peaceful paths where you find rest, you must make the way pleasant, and show, by your gentleness, winning speech, friendliness, courtesy, unselfishness and refinement, that you have been taught in the school of life by the meek and lowly Son of God. Life is education; "time, a measured portion of infinite duration," given to fit us for higher spheres of activity and duty, when we shall have passed from this one room of our Father's mansions to another. "I go to prepare a place for you," said the Holy One before He took the last step in the life of suffering that purchased for us the right to enter it. He, a spotless Victim, came in the fulness of time, to bear our MANNERS. 173 sins in His own body on the tree: and shall we fail in following the blessed steps of His most holy life, in loving as He loved, and in showing that love by faithful service to Him in minis- tering to His suffering children? The true secret of all good manners is hidden in the aphorism of Goethe. — "With renunciation alone can the real life of man be said to begin." It is giving up our own selfish thoughts, actions. aims, and plans freely, gracefully, and continually, to advance the interests of others; it is restraining the hasty comment, the rash expres- sion of unfavorable opinion; in short, obeying perfectly the golden rule. "Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." By constantly exercising self-restraint, the manners acquire dignity and polish. The very effort we make refines and elevates the character. If you are in high position, and in authority over those about you. be very careful to resist the temptation to become over-bearing, and loud in voice and manner. Remember, always to "Speak gently! It is better far To rule by love than fear; Speak gently! Let no harsh words mar The good we might do here." 174 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. You have doubtless witnessed the wonder- fully refining influence that true religion brings over the manners of those who, even late in life, have been brought under its sway. Amid much to discourage and depress the spirits you will have this gleam of comfort in your labors: when the hard heart is humbled by the story of the Cross, and the mighty power of God has changed the life of those who were before strangers to its softening grace, you will often find the outward manner telling of the quiet- ness and peace within. The highest type of all good is their daily study, and He who pleased not Himself has become their friend and guide. Extremes meet, and I can recall instances of refined courtesy among our old-fashioned colored people as striking as that of the most cultivated society people. Unselfishness must be at the root of good manners, and a careful avoid- ance of careless words and hasty denial. If you are compelled to utter disagreeable truths, put the pleasanter part of the subject first, and come gradually to the other. Cloak your negatives; do not put them forth at once in their full harshness. MANNERS. 175 You will bear constant apologies made for really well-meaning people, whose blttntness, irritable replies, and hasty answers offend, in the comprehensive excuse. "It is her way." and the expressive, if homely, characterization. "Her bark is worse than her bite."* Let me beg you not to contract a "way." and never to indulge in a "bark.*" One instance of bad manners that begins in a nervous habit, is particularly disagreeable to most persons: that is. laughing upon all occasions, no matter how serious the subject discussed may be. and how grave the circumstances of those about you. "Giggling- girls" have been the subject of much satire, but the high spirits of youth allow a wide margin in their behalf. But to continue this habit in later life is so silly and senseless, that those who indulge in it can expect barely tolerance, and often contempt. The Duke of Wellington is reported to have said that "Waterloo was gained at Eton and Harrow:" so true is it that the habits and manners we acquire during our school days, have power to make and mould our future years- 176 A LIFE OF SERVICE. The haste of modern life is a great obstacle to the cultivation of good mariners. Therefore, avoid the hurry which seems often a necessary condition of the crowded days that come to us. When you get up in the morning, the duties that lie before you will often rise to a mountain height, and you will be tempted to go forth to them in a flurried, distracted spirit. Then, what some modern writer calls "the contrariety of inanimate nature'" will meet you; doors will bang, china will fall, books will be out of place, the fire goes out, and a thousand obstacles will seemingly arise to bar your progress. Unless you can attain calmness under all such annoyances, you will be likely to show your impatience by some breach of good manners, and by venting it upon the innocent persons who share your labou rs. Have in your heart some prayer or poem to say at such times, to repress any hasty word, such as Bonars lines: "Calm me, my God, and keep me calm. Soft resting on Thy breast, Soothe me with holy hymn and psalm, And bid my spirit rest " The effort you make to recall them will be beneficial, and the nervous feeling of haste will pass away. LETTEE XIX. LITTLE THINGS. There is no action so slight nor so mean but it may be done to a great purpose and ennobled thereby; nor is any purpose so great but that slight actions may help it, and may be so done as to help it much, most especially that chief of all purposes, the pleasing of God. Ruskin. He who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything, Db. Johnson. X FELT in ray last letter that I had given you -±- a very feeble transcript of the strength of ray impression of the importance of acquiring pleasant manners: and I must try to add a few words upon the necessity of observing and thinking of little things, as essential to the possessor. Life is made up of just such small observances and thought: and to keep the mind open to remember and the heart and hands ready to practice them, is the true secret of good 178 A LIFE OF SERVICE. manners. There are few memories sadder in the retrospect than the "might-have-beens." The friend, now cold and alienated, was estranged for the lack of a few cordial words when misunderstanding first opened the breach. If those little words had been spoken which pride stifled, or diffidence refused to utter at the bidding of the heart, that friend might have been a life-long solace and support. Cultivate the habit of always expressing your gratitude for little favors that are done to you. Particularly in your intercourse with the poor, and those who may be under your authority, notice any little thing they may have arranged to please you, any following of your wishes and carrying out of your plans, and express your axapreciation, pleasure and gratitude fully and cordially. Those who are blessed with this world's goods have a thousand ways of showing their affection, and can, with small trouble to themselves, give tangible proof of their interest and kindly feeling. But poverty circumscribes all the loving dictates of the heart; and it is only by careful study that it can find a way to express its gratitude and love. LITTLE THINGS. 179 Few things are more chilling, than the failure to make the least response by word or look of appreciation, when the utmost pains have been taken to gratify the taste of a friend, perhaps at a large expenditure of time and thought. This may be classed among the little things, but it is a great breach of good manners. In society, think not so much of your own enjoyment, but study the tastes and dispositions of your friends, that you may see that they are suited with a companion, or employment. Introduce persons whom you judge to be congenial to each other, and provide for the shrinking and the diffident. Look after the invalids, and see that they have comfortable seats and footstools, and that the air and light are arranged as is most pleasant to them. If you have been ill yourself, you will understand how important these little things are. and how the comfort of the whole evening is marred for a person who is not well, by an awkward seat or a glare of light upon the eyes, Never rudely criticise other people's amuse- ments, or condemn them as frivolous and uninteresting. Tastes differ, and God has not 180 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. made you the judge for them. If you find that your spiritual growth is not promoted by indulging in certain social entertainments, give them up, if you can do so without injury, or occasioning unpleasant feelings to others. But do not think that because you do not care for them you are any better than those who indulge in them. Things indifferent can become bad by being left wholly to those whose only aim in life is amusement; and the influence of a good woman can cast a refining and elevated tone over any society in which she mingles. "Small service is true service while it lasts;" and be careful not to overlook the opportunities of rendering it quietly and efficiently. There is a degree of humility that becomes morbid; do not allow yourself to cherish such a guest in your heart. Every one has some gift, some talent, some acquirement for which he must give account when "the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them.'' The five talents will gain "five talents more," and the two can gain "two other talents beside them;" and it is only the "wicked and slothful servant" who will be afraid and hide his talent in the earth. LITTLE THINGS. 18] Every day we can see the promise fulfilled: "For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away, even that which he hath." We cannot add to the happiness of those we love unless we look carefully after little things. "Little deeds of kindness Little words of love ; ' alone can brighten the path of life. God or- dains that the souls He fits for the enjoyment of Himself, should be made "perfect through suffering:" and to each is given its appointed burden of sorrow or care. But this sorrow can be comforted, and this care lightened, by the ministry of kindly words and deeds. It is not enough to love deeply and truly, to feel earnest and affectionate sympathy; but you must show this love and sympathy by gentle words and acts. The time is short in which we can thus strew flowers on the darkened path of our friends, and soon the words that might have cheered the living can be sobbed forth only over the grave: and the garlands whose sweet- ness might have refreshed their weary spirits 182 A LIFE OF SERVICE. must be hung over the cold marble of their tombs. If there is any one living to whom you have not rendered grateful acknowledgement of kindness, help, and sympathy, hasten to do so now. Life is a school, and how shall the teachers know that the lessons they set are of value to the heart and mind of the pupil, if the gleaming eye does not show it, and the expressive word is not spoken to point to its significance? This acknowledgment may be the "cup of cold water" which, if given in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose its reward. A low, sweet voice is one of those little things which are so very pleasant in a woman as to repay any labor and pains you may take to acquire it. Elocution and musical science can teach you much about the suitable pitch, and inflection, and the management of '''chest tones;" but good, unselfish feeling will teach you more. Loud talking is so offensive to good manners that you must not let any haste or excitement induce you to adopt it. Watch very carefully when you are hurried or annoyed, that you do not raise your voice; it will increase LITTLE THINGS. 183 your nervous haste and deepen your annoyance. You may injure by your vehemence those you most dearly love, and offend those for whose welfare you are willing to make many sacrifices. By not speaking without reflection, you will be able to govern your voice as well as your temper, and the soft words which come then will be much more efficacious. One little thing which you must be careful to watch, is the opportunity that will come to you to speak a kindly word of warning to those who stand in dangerous places, and to whom the temptation of the senses is strong. There was a time when the life that is now darkened by sin. was open and bright with the promises of intellect and virtue. The tempter came with the poisoned wine cup wreathed with the roses of festivity, and sparkling with the joys of youth. A few words then of warning, of cordial interest and affection, might have dashed aside the bowl beneath whose flowers lurked madness and death, and whose sparkle concealed the serpent writhing below. Then.it was a little thing to speak; now. a giant's weight alone can break the cords of the fatal habit that is swiftly dragging its victim down to death and hell. 184 A LIFE OF SERVICE. Never speak lightly of any sin, but particu- larly do not laugh at any silly or disgusting exhibition of intemperance. Pity the degraded victim, and, if you can, draw him from the mire into which the baser instincts of his nature will drag him. It is a little thing to offer the wine cup to a friend, but untold ages of misery may be the effect of that act. Everywhere, in the mysterious economy of nature, trifling causes may produce tremendous changes. Tiny drops trickling upon granite can wear away the pondrous mass, and the water-flood may deluge the emerald-clad valley. Among the workings of that wonderful laboratory we call Nature, it is often found that little things can set in motion mighty convulsions, and produce grad- ual, but sure, revolutions. And so in the moral and spiritual world, "Little things On little wings Bear little souls to heaven." LETTER XX OBEDIENCE. '•Great may be he who can command And rule with just and tender sway: Yet is diviner wisdom taught Better by him who can obey. Blessed are those who died for God And earned the martyr's crown of light; Yet he who lives for God may be A greater conquerer in His sight." Miss Proctor. JX the restlessness which is such a marked characteristic of modern life, many of the quiet, unobtrusive virtues which fit one for a life of service, are apt to be undervalued and overlooked, until experience proves their worth, and demonstrates how little value is left to the service without them. Perhaps the most noticeable point in first making acquaintance with new organizations, is. that all seem to be rulers, and none are left to obev. The conflict 186 A LIFE OF SERVICE. of wills, in such cases, is anything but harmoni- ous, or agreeable, to the worker or spectator. The powers that be are ordained of God; civilization is distinguished from barbarism by a submission to law; and cultivated society from its reverse, by obedience to the rule which the accumulated experience of centuries has im- posed upon its members. God's government is preeminently one of strict rule; and to educate, develop, and govern our bodies, minds, and souls, we must render constant obedience to the laws He has given us, for our physical, mental, and spiritual welfare. Concert of action is essential to all successful work in the parish; and the rulers in that parish are those to whom, by God's appointment, you should render obedience. Perhaps, in many cases, this will involve some surrender of your own rights of private judgment as to what is good and best; and it will be your duty, in things non-essential, to do this. Few, if any, human judgments can be so clear and unhesi- tating in their dictates, as to be infallible, and your own is as liable to be mistaken, as any other. Always remember this when you obey OBEDIENCE. 187 laws that seem to you capable of improvement, and learn a lesson in humility as you do so. Take the case of a rector who has recently come into a parish. He brings with him plans that have been matured by the experience that the discipline of cities gives, and of whose correct workings he has had abundant proof. Instantly the conservatism of a small place is aroused, although opposition will often rind nothing more sensible to urge against their adoption, than that "our late rector never thought of such things." If a few persons will be willing to sacrifice their own private predilec- tions and dislike to change, to the instinct or habit of obedience, time will soon secure the rest. Many persons are unwilling to render this unquestioned obedience, because they have never exerted themselves to understand its necessity. They may say. "other people, whose feelings are not so strong, or their attachments sc settled, may fall into the ranks, but I can- not/' Thus you will often see those who are capable of rendering most efficient aid in various kinds of parish work, standing aloof , 188 A LIFE OF SERVICE. because some of the regular rules hurt their prejudices, or are contrary to some old-fashioned notion of churchmanship. That the world moves, and that a narrow province is not all of it, are truths they find difficult to practically believe; and because others, who have seen beyond the limited horizon that bounds their view, will not forget this wider vision, is to them a cause of offence. Then is witnessed a sad spectacle to those who love the Church, and pray for her peace and unity. Part of a congregation becomes alienated from the clergyman, who. by the will of God, is appointed to teach them His truth. His grace in their hearts may have strength sufficient to crush all open signs of enmity ; but they become only passive hearers of the Word, and refuse all active interest in the work of the Church. The temptation of the adversary of souls is powerful to those who thus place them- selves in an offensive attitude against those who differ from them, until unseemly dissensions disgrace the Church of God. If you are so unfortunate as to live in a parish where such malcontents impede its OBEDIENCE. 189 healthy action and growth, you must be very careful not. in the least, to sympathize with their spirit. Little matters of form and routine are very small, compared to the love and charity that should reign among Christian brethren. You may know, practically, that in many things there is a more excellent way; but if those in authority prefer the less effective arrangement, you must do the best the circumstances of the case allow, and leave the rest to God. Always pray fervently for the peace of Jerusalem, and be careful that your hand, or voice, is never raised to violate this peace. Very poor plans can become, by the blessing of God, efficacious in saving souls, and building up the faithful in knowledge and love of the truth as it is in Jesus. There is no branch of Church work where you will not find it necessary to obey those who have rule over you. Many little things that seem attractive have been found, by experience, to be inexpedient, or tending to confusion, in caring for the poor. Be very careful to obey the laws of the society under which you are working. One failure will often produce many 190 A LIFE OF SERVICE. others; and it is far better to resign your office, and all attempts to act in concert with others, unless you can render this obedience. Punctu- ality is so essential to all successful effort that you have, doubtless, long since learned its importance. If your memory is so defective that you cannot remember the exact time when your duties claim you. it is well to make a list of them, and attach it to your calendar, so that it will always be in sight. Never allow yourself to think that this obedience to rules is a small matter. It often affects the whole day; and one slight transgression will often annoy many others, and bring additional labour upon some already fully-burdened friend. Promptness in obeying is also essential. The time is short, and unless you attend at once^ to the duty of the hour, the opportunity may be lost. If you have charge of collecting or disbursing money for the church, do not wait till the last practical moment; something may occur to necessarily detain you then, and this most important duty is left undone. How many admirable plans for aiding the missionary work of the Church have come to naught, because the OBEDIENCE. 191 agents would not render this essential obedience ! God's tenth has not been collected, or the delay in sending it has caused suffering and distress to the faithful missionary, and brought a heavy pressure of care and debt upon the societies which look after their interests. I wish I could sketch for you some of the painful consequences of disobedience in such cases. I have heard sensible women say, "Yes. I will join the society, but I must do as I choose, come when I like, and obey only those rules of which I thoroughly approve."' An element of carelessness and insubordination is thus intro- duced that will require much patience, prayer, good judgment, amiability, and watchfulness, to overcome. Many must do double duty to make up the deficiencies of these lawless members, whose example will often affect others; for ' 'It is the little rift within the lute That by and "by will make the music mute." In all the rules laid down for the guidance of women who give themselves to a religious life in a community, obedience is one of the points most strictly insisted upon. Vincent de Paul, in his first discourse to the sisters of charity, 192 A LIFE OF SERVICE. who, under his guidance, wrought such a change in France in the seventeenth century, said to them: "Your convent must be the house of the sick; your cell, the chamber of suffering; your chapel, the nearest church; your cloister, the streets of a city or the wards of a hospital; the promise of obedience your soul enclosure, and womanly modesty your only veil.'* LETTER XXI. THE CARE OF THE SICK. •'The world's a room of sickness, where each heart Knows its own anguish and unrest; The truest wisdom then and noblest art, Is his whose skill to comfort 's best." iN every little village and town there seems a choice band of unselfish spirits who give their time, and strength, to caring for the sick; and as soon as the harbinger of the Angel of Death comes to the household, the thoughts of the inmates go immediately toward these ministering spirits of humanity. I have often wished that the records of some of these noble ones could be given to the world, which is always bettered by knowing of the soft under- current of noble deeds, and self-sacrificing devotion, that glides unnoticed and unknown through the byways of daily life. 194 A LIFE OF SERVICE. In cities, so much may be purchased by money, that the friendly office is not so conspicuous; but among the hidden heroes of the world few shine with brighter lustre than those " Whom by the softest step and gentlest t one Enfeebled spirits own; And love to raise the languid eye, When like an angel's wing they feel them flitting by." There is a degree of natural aptness that distinguishes these faithful nurses, and makes their ministrations so acceptable to the weary sufferer. The quiet footfall, the low, clear voice, the unhurried movements, the noiseless arrange- ments, and the watchful care that wards off annoyances, are priceless boons in the chamber of sickness. They may be acquired by all; and often the promptings of affection have taught them to those whose every habit of life was foreign to their acquisition. The trained nurses in hospitals, and especially ladies who have studied under skilled physicians, attain wonderful facility in sooth- ing the patients, and bringing order, quietness, and peace to the sick room. They have learned THE CARE OF THE SICK. 195 the best way of doing everything required for the comfort of the sufferer, and found the happy medium of caring for them as their needs demand, without wearying them by constant and harassing efforts to relieve. You have asked me to give you some hints as to the secret of their success: and though, perhaps, the same things have been said often before, I will try and note a few prominent features of it. The practice of having a "sick room** in each family is a wise one; and it is well for it to be. if possible, somewhat removed from the noise and necessary sounds of the household. Let the arrangements for ventilation be good; the windows opening from the top. and the blinds prej)ared to increase or diminish the light at pleasure. If the patient can be kept out of the draught, have a circulation of fresh air always through the apartment. If you can enjoy the luxury of an open fire, this will be quite easy; but it needs care not to let the temperature go below a certain point. This, I suppose, may differ according to the disease and temperament of the patient: but higher than sixty-five degrees in 196 A LIFE OF SERVICE. winter seems unwise. Abundance of light coverings should be provided to throw over the bed in case of chilliness, and to place about the shoulders of the patient when sitting up. Remove all useless articles of furniture, but do not allow the room to have a stripped look. A nurse should never sleep with a sick person, but occupy a small bed near. If you have been familiar with the disposition and habits of your patients in health, you will, of course, be better adapted to understand their peculiarities in illness, though some persons seem to entirely change their natures under the influence of disease. A cheerful sick room, where all of the needful appliances for medicines and remedial measures are kept out of sight, is best for everybody. A plain wall of a neutral tint, with a few landscapes and religious pictures upon it, is most grateful to the eye. Dotted wall paper, which, in feverish wakefulness, the patient will nervously feel compelled to count, is a useless aggravation. A few flowers in a glass will make a bright spot for the restless eyes; but strong odors will often distress the over-sensitive THE CARE OF THE SICK. 197 nerves, and the bouquet should be daily removed. The Flower Missions "which are so success- fully supplying the sick with these beautiful messages of God's love." have done much to brighten the lives of sufferers in the hospitals, and crowded houses of the poor. It is • touching to see the eagerness which the patients evince in claiming their own particular bouquet, and the lingering tenderness they will display when it is to be changed for a fresh one. "The Silent Comforters." Scripture mottoes, and emblems now so common, become very precious to sick persons. A lady I met abroad was once ill in a room where an illuminated text upon the wall brought her such a change of feeling, that she devoted her time, upon recovering, to painting similar ones in many different languages, and distribut- ing them, personally, in large boarding houses and hotels. She allowed me to choose the one I liked best for my room in Switzerland, and showed me others in Russian. Italian and even in Chinese, and the dialects of India. 198 A LIFE OF SERVICE. Scrupulous cleanlinesss is one very import- ant requisite of your care. Let all the glasses and china be cleaned immediately after using; if possible, in a separate room, but if not, very quietly out of the patient's sight. Hot water should be always at hand, and, in summer, a spirit lamp with which to prepare light articles of food. Obey the directions of the physician implicitly, and induce the patient, unless very feeble, to tell him all change of symptoms. Be careful that your dress does not rustle, and is of suitable length, and without superfluous trimming. Wear soft shoes, and move about the room when necessary with a quick, elastic tread, instead of the slow, creaking footsteps, which some think appropriate to illness. Do not weary the patient by discussions of any point; for the mind, as well as the body, is weakened by disease. Keep all preparations for medicine, or treatment, out of sight till the last moment before using, and bring suitable articles of food to the bedside of the invalid at the proper time without consultation with him beforehand. Often the mention of food will THE CARE OF THE SICK. 199 sicken, when the sight of it, in the surprise of the moment, may induce tasting, and, at last, eating a suitable quantity. If the patient craves some particular article of food that is not positively unwholesome, the physician will often allow him to have it. Hypocrates says, "The second best remedy is better than the best, if the patient likes it best." But if such fancies are only the whim of an undisciplined nature, accustomed to no higher guide than its own likes or dislikes in health it is not well to regard them much. Such characters are best under strong government, and illness is often aggravated by yielding to their perverted tastes. In the admirable practice of medicine that now prevails, drugs are used sparingly, and regular food, constant watchfulness, cleanliness, fresh air, warmth, sunlight, and rest, have taken their place. Hypocrates' "three best physi- cians*' are now the most fashionable — "Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet and Dr. Merryman,'* and have many cures to report. It is very important that those who care for the sick should regard their own health, and,*by 200 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. exercise in the open air, and occasional change of scene, retain that cheerfulness which is so important an element in their success. Train two or three helpers, who will be as anxious as yourself, to follow the physician's directions without discussion. The plan in hospitals is to write these on a card above the bed, out of sight of the patient, so that any change of attendants will not produce disturbance. In fever, where it is necessary to administer food, or tonics, many times to prevent the strength from sinking, it is better to have a written schedule of the hours. Never consult the patient about these things, or, indeed, upon any other subject; but do everything to shield him from care or painful thoughts about himself or others. Some short devotional exercise every day will refresh rather than weary the mind, and the stated visits of a clergyman are of great service. "The Order for the Visitation of the Sick," in the Prayer-Book, is admirably adapted to its purpose, and the familiar words rarely lose their power to soothe. In cases of dangerous illness, if the patient does not understand the danger, it is well, in THE CARE OF THE SICK. 201 most cases, to let him know the probability of fatal termination. To one who. in health, has brought mind and heart into subjection to the will of God. this need bring no alarm. Life and death are alike gifts of heavenly love, to be received with gratitude and trustful submission. The "dark valley" has been lighted by the footsteps of the Holy one. and we can tread the painful road cheerfully, upborne by His strength, made perfect in our weakness. Doubt often causes pain that certainty will remove: and quietness generally comes to the Christian when he understands what is the will of God concerning him. A sick bed is the last place in which we can prepare for death. Physical infirmities are so engrossing, and the mind, even when not clouded by feverish wander- ings, is so excited by the conflict with pain, or so deadened by suffering, that it refuses to rouse to the then difficult task. If you live yourself with death always in view, and think and speak of it as that good Angel who loves us best, and will gently lead us through the lighted pathway to the blessed rest of Paradise, you can have more influence in 202 A LIFE OF SERVICE. bringing your patient to the same bright uplooking for the opening gates, and cheerful readiness for the call that will bring him where alone "are true peace, sure repose, constant, firm and eternal security." LETTEK XXII. HEALTH. "As wine savors of the cask where it is kept, so the soul receives a tincture from the body through which it works." ?HE ever-changing wheel of fashion, public- opinion. — or whatever you choose to des- ignate the mighty power that insensibly governs the majority. — now decrees that it is compatible with its highest favor to be well, robust, and active. Formerly pallor was fashionable, a want of appetite was considered "genteel." and languid strolling up and down much frequented streets the only lady-like walking. The novels of the older day depicted their heroines as shrieking at a spider, trembling before a cow. and fainting at the approach of a thunder storm. Watchful cavaliers must escort the timid maiden, or protecting duennas guard her goings in all directions, and any but the 204 A LIFE OF SERVICE. most perfunctory care of the poor was denied to the fair captive. High flown compliments, or silly platitudes, were considered the respectful topics of conversation, while the mysteries of life and death were all too high and serious for discourse between sexes. These pale, shrinking creatures have had their day; the stern duty of the hour sweeps them away in its progress. Where they linger, perhaps aged and poor, treat them tenderly as waifs from the past; find, if you can, some congenial nook where they may live out their little life of gentle illusions undisturbed by the din and conflict of modern days. Very much of that ultra squeamishness and fastidious choice of food, words, and actions, was altogether sham. The delicate lady, who never ate anything at the regular meals of the family on account of her "poor appetite," or would daintily feed upon the wing of a chicken, sweets, or the dessert, and sip iced drinks only, was often a stealthy visitor to the pantry, and kept packages of dainties hidden for secret feasting. This alone was enough to unstring the nerves, and would soon make the delicacv of health no HEALTH. 205 longer imaginary. The night held terrors for such, and they shrank from the friendly darkness, sleeping with night lamps in their chambers, and trembling at the evening wind. The extreme precision of conversation in public was so wearying, that the lady's maid often heard language quite the reverse; and, indeed? words alone were not considered sufficient to enlighten their dull perception, and the children and servants would know, by experience, the weight of a little white hand. The reaction from this sentimental timidity, squeamish delicacy, and languid seclusion, has come with such power that we begin to see the dangers of this extreme also. Modern young ladies, with their dash and daring, climbing Alpine summits, swimming the torrent, shooting- rapids in canoes propelled by their own strength, remind one of Tennyson's dream of his "dusky race:** "Iron- join ted, supple sinewed, They shall dive and they shall run." But if the strength gained in these open air exploits is used afterwards to do the Master's work, and true womanly modesty governs the 20 6 A LIFE OF SERVICE. speech, and restrains the exuberance of animal spirits, I think we need not fear this contagious "muscular" Christianity. Every woman should know enough of medical science to understand the laws of health; and have enough common sense to apply them to the requirements of her own consti- tution. But. knowing this, it is not well to think much of them, or fancy that every little necessary undue exertion will make you ill. Take substantial food at regular, suitable intervals, and then forget the process of digestion; only be careful not to disturb it by eating anything else. Food is one of the good gifts sent us by God. and is to be enjoyed, like all His gifts, in moderation. Cultivate simple tastes, and the "dinner of herbs" will be as palatable as a "lordly dish." Exercise in the open air, and suitable occupation of mind and body, not pursued to excess, will, unless your constitution is unusually frail, give you a healthy appetite for wholesome food. Moderation in all things is one of the most essential things in seeking health — in eating, in drinking, in amusement, in labor, in study, HEALTH. 207 in exercise, in speech, and in sleep. Do not spend the beautiful morning hours in unhealthy slumber, but rise promptly, bathe and prepare yourself, by devotion, for the duties of the day. Have these marked out for you, so that, "Without haste, without rest." you may faithfully fulfil your appointed task. Eecollect that God made us, body and soul. "He knoweth our frame and remembereth that we are but dust,'' and unless we obey His laws our days will be passed in sorrow- or sin. Refer all the actions of your life to His guidance, and be taught by grace not to live to eat, but to eat to live. There is no matter so small that we may not consult our Heavenly Friend, and ask His wisdom to lighten our darkness. If you are ill, His blessing may restore you to health, and you will then understand fully what a rich blessing He has given you, and how careful you should be to preserve it. Unless you have some infirmity that positively forbids it, regular daily exercise in the open air is essential to health. Prepare yourself against the weather by warm wraxDpings in winter; short dresses, thick shoes, and water-proof outer 208 A LIFE OF SEEVICE. garments in rain; and you can brave all its vicissitudes. Be careful never to remain longer in damp clothing than possible, and in removing them use friction to prevent the possibility of a chill. Have some object in your walks, and they will never become tedious. Visit the poor, the sick, your Sunday school scholars, and your friends. It was said of Sir Fowell Buxton that "he walked through the world like a man passing through the wards of a hospital, and stooping down, on all sides, to administer help where it was needed/' In this way new forms of service will be opened to you; and you will need all the vigor of mind that firm health gives you, to follow up the leadings of Provi- dence. "Labour and rest," was the wise advice of a celebrated physician to his patients, and it is essential in the preservation of health. Change of occupation is often rest to the weary. The mind, fatigued by close application to study, should, by physical exercise, relax its tension and recover strength. Perfect trust in the love of God, and the faithfulness of our Heavenly HEALTH. 209 Friend as a guide and protector, in all the chances and changes of this mortal life, will keep the mind in health and react upon the body. Every incident of our lives happens by the permission of this Lord and Governor of the world, and is part of the discipline that is to prepare us for another. Do not rebel against your lot in life, but "Confide ye aye in Providence, for Providence is kind; And bear ye all life's changes wi calm and tranquil mind. Though pressed and hemmed on every side, have faith, and ye 11 win through, For ilka blade of grass keeps its ain drop of dew." Beware of the use of stimulants when you are weary. They bring an unnatural excitement for the time that may be pleasant, but the reaction is more depressing afterwards. Alcohol is a certain poison, destroying the delicate tissues of the body, and rendering those who accustom themselves to its use, liable to all sudden and violent disorders, which they have no strength to resist. Drugs should be used very sparingly, and never without the advice of a physician. The practice that obtains in some families of administering strong medicines for simple ailments is very injurious, and should be steadily 210 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. resisted. Medical men say that much of the delicacy of the ladies of the present day is due to the fact, that they were accustomed to a practice that sanctioned such things in their childhood. Do not let any false pride prevent you from acknowledging that you are weary, and accustom yourself to stated periods of rest. Try to avoid all mental excitement in the evening, that you may enjoy sound and refreshing slumber; and learn to lay aside all subjects of perplexing- thoughts, as you do your garments, at night. Commit them, with all else that belongs to you, to the care of Him whose wisdom cannot err, and whose kindness cannot fail; and if His mercy deny you health of body, you can have the blessing of a quiet, contented, and thankful spirit. LETTER XXIII. TRAVELLING. "All scenes alike engaging prove To souls impressed with sacred love! Where'er they dwell, they dwell in Thee; In heaven, in earth, or on the sea." Madame Guyon. IN the days of our ancestors, when a coach and four was necessary for a journey, travelling was a luxury for the few favored ones of fortune. But now that "the resonant steam eagles" fly in all directions about us. and we can make our forty miles an hour over the iron tracks, it seems as if all the world were moving upon them. The prophetic times are upon us, when "many shall run to and fro. and knowledge shall be increased." There are many advantages in such a state of things. Narrow views are lost in the wide prospect that is opened before us. We find 212 A LIFE OF SEEVICE. happy homes, holy men and women, and busy people, striving to make the world better from their living in it. everywhere. Each view of men and nature succeeds so rapidly that we, at first, do not see the essential likeness under the seeming diversity. In the morning w T e can pace the white sea-strand, and watch the emerald- tinted waves dash "against a tremorless cliff, one moment a flinty cave, the next a marble pillar, the next a fading cloud:" or the snowy foam-crested billows riding rapidly in to cover the moss-grown rocks, taste the briny breath, and be drenched with the salt spray of the ocean; and at evening bask on cool uplands, " in whose dusk arcades The very noonday seems of twilight emulous," w T hile the keen mountain breezes sweep through the pines with a wild, unearthly moaning. But the ear that is tuned aright, to read the sublime harmony of nature, can hear the same undertone of solemn meaning in the murmur of the deep, and the sonorous chords of the forest melody on the hill tops. All these voices "May blend about God's altar, And help to fill the Psalter That's divine." TRAVELLING. 213 To travel aright, we must learn thoroughly the old childhood's lessons of "eyes and no eyes." Everyone seems to move about from place to place in these days, but how many derive little benefit from their movements! You hear people speaking- of an Alpine tour: and instead of recalling those noble snow-crowned mountain tops, with their glittering seas of ice. and the pink flushes of the after-glow at sunset. — surely the most beautiful sight this side of the gates of Paradise. — they complain of a poor breakfast on the Rigi. and a crowded steamer on Lake Lucerne. Ruskin's American girl, driving through one of the most sublime pas-er- of the Alps, with the carriage curtains drawn down, and reading a French novel, must be no unusual spectacle, from the few ideas many travellers seem to gather on their journeys. I am sure you do not thus slight the noble works of the Creator, or shut your eyes to the beauties of the mountains. You feel that they "were built for the human race, as at once their schools and cathedrals, full of treasures of illuminated manuscript for the scholar, kindly in simple lessons to the worker, quiet in pale 214 A LIFE OF SERVICE. cloisters for the thinker, glorious in holiness for the worshipper;" and, by the grandeur and beauty of the cloud-land into which they raise their snowy heads, giving us faint glimpses of those hills of the Lord where we shall walk with never weary feet. We honor the Creator in studying His handiwork, believing that "the strength of the hills is His also/' The spirit of the Benedicite, where ice and snow, lightnings and clouds, and all the green things upon earth are called upon to join with the spirits and souls of the right- eous, to praise and magnify Him forever, is the spirit of the Christian rejoicing in the works of the Lord. Open your heart to all the sweet influences when you travel, and forget the little annoyances that will come by the way, in storing up the fair sights, pleasant sounds and fragrant breaths, to refresh your memory in other years. In going through the Mont Cenis pass one February day, when the sunshine was brilliant, but the air keen, it was observed that one side was glittering with icicles, into which the mountain streams had frozen, and on the other the little plain was a bed of primroses. The TRAVELLING. 215 unexpected sight of their delicate loveliness. amid the wild grandeur of the snowy mountains, can never be forgotten. When you travel, leave, if possible, care behind, so that no "Cloud within dims the bright, still, summer air;" for the ''sick heart" refuses to acknowledge the beauty of Nature. It is said that travelling brings out all the hidden traits of character; if so, selfish people must be largely in the majority. Witness a weary mother coming into a railway car, with two or three little children clinging to her. Seemingly, every seat is full; but really, twenty people have their packages piled up on the vacant one beside them, and only one or two will make the slightest effort to remove them, unless required by the conductor to make room for the way-worn travellers. Think of Napoleon's reproof to a fashionable lady who was disinclined to allow a working woman, laden with a large parcel, to pass her; — ■ "Madame, respect the burden." Stand cheer- fully in such a case, if you are well; if not. make every effort to procure accommodation for 216 A LIFE OF SERVICE. your burdened sister. If you are travelling with a mother who has the sole care of little children, see if you cannot lighten this charge by taking by your side one of her little flock, or furnishing diversion for them when they are tired and fretful. A crowded railway line passed by a grove, where, as is so customary in summer, some religious services were being held. A band of plain looking men came on the train with hymn books in their hands, and, as only a few could find seats, began to pace up and down the car, singing as they walked. The leader was a pale, dark-eyed man, with kindly look and gentle ways; and before an hour was over he had opportunity to do some little act of thoughtful service to many of his fellow travellers. The day was warm, and the atmosphere of the crowded car close and unpleasant. He opened the ventilators, shut out the too intru- sive sunbeams, arranged the seats, put the packages neatly into the racks, comforted some crying children, and took some of the fretful little ones, by tarns, in his arms and hushed them to sleep. Such a look of grateful relief TRAVELLING. 21 < came over the face of one tired woman who had been thus befriended, that I can never forget its pathos. ; 'We have been travelling two days." she said, "and you are the first person who has offered to help me.*' Others, awakened by this example, brought refreshment to the weary party; and a spirit of interest was aroused in the children that comforted the way-worn mother. "The business of a philosopher," said Pythagoras, "is to look on;"* but the business of a Christian is to help at all times and places where a kindly word, or thoughtful act. will lighten care or comfort sorrow: and this x^lain man, with defective grammar and discordant singing, was following closely in the footsteps of Him who went about doing good. If you remain long enough in any place you visit, inquire into the condition of the poor, and the measures that are being taken to relieve them. Find out from the rector of the parish where visiting would be acceptable, and enter into the joys and sorrows of their lives as synrpathisingly as if you had always known them. 218 A LIFE OF SERVICE. You may thus brighten up for yourself hours that would otherwise be lonely, and estab- lish ties of grateful affection among strangers. Attend faithfully upon the services of the church, and be as prompt in responding to the calls for charity, as at home. If you accept the ministrations of the clergy, you are bound to contribute toward the necessary expenses of worship. Surely, it must be from thoughtlessness that this most important duty is so often neglected. Strangers, in summer resorts, often crowd into little churches there, and expect to receive courtesy and hospitality from the regular congregation; and yet allow Sunday after Sunday to pass without making any response to the call of the offertory. While contributing according to the measure of ability that God has given you, and denying yourself, that you may aid in sustaining the worship of God, be careful not to criticise the manner of conducting the services. In cities you can have the sweet music from highly trained boy-choirs, leading, as is most suitable, the praises of God's people; but, in the country, TKAVELLING. 219 the men often stand aloof, and the feebler voices of the women compose the choir. Xo matter how faulty may be their execution, never allow yourself to smile or to criticise. God looks upon the heart, and the quivering notes of untrained worshippers may go up from earnest spirits, as acceptable worship before His throne. Be as quiet and reverent in "the upper room." or the hotel parlor that is used for the service, as if you were in a stately cathedral; and never notice any little accident, or mistake, that may interrupt its order. If no provision is made regularly for worship on Sunday, see if you cannot arrange with some of your friends to read parts of the prayers, and a sermon. Much may be done in this way by a little effort: and I have seen at the Springs in summer, where many gentlemen were invalids, and no clergy- man was present, the whole of Morning Prayer read by five or six different persons, the music reverently conducted, and a large congre- gation devout and attentive. On the Continent, the English have Chapels at all of the principal resorts for travellers, and you will find comfort and pleasure in making 220 A LIFE OF SERVICE. use of their services. Do all in your power to sustain the ministering clergyman, and see if you cannot devise ways and means for his worthier support. "They who minister about holy things live of the sacrifice," and "even so hath the Lord also ordained, that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel." If there is no church, make every effort in your power to have one built. All over our land there are springing up little houses of prayer that were built by the energy, prayer, and efforts of faithful women, and it may be your blessed privilege to add another to their number. LETTER XXIV. CAKE. "Upon the glass the creeping fly Will shut out mightiest worlds on high; So care, to thankless mortals given, Will hide from us our God and heaven." Rev. Isaac Williams. JN hours of elevated feeling we can look back over the way through which our God has led us. and wonder at the blindness that hid the guiding ray of His love. Care darkened the path, and we struggled wearily to pierce its shadows. Now, in the retrospect, we see that it was mercy which sent the dimness that enveloped us. to hide evil things which lurked amid its recesses, or covered a temptation that might have been too great for our strength. "Earthly care" can always be made "heavenly discipline^ if we cease rebelling against its imposition, and look upon it as a friend instead of an enemy. When we see the wrecks that are made of so many idle lives, and the ennui that settles upon 222 A LIFE OF SERVICE. all who have not some definite aim and object in existence, we may gladly turn to occupation as a safeguard, and accept the care that necessarily accompanies it as a wholesome restraint. But, alas! we can not always '"keep heights which the soul is competent to gain. Man is of dust," and we soon descend to the level wheie care is ready to enslave us, and we groan as beneath the exactions of a stern master. Atfader, in the old Norse legend, did not quench his thirst at Mimir's spring — the reputed fountain of all wisdom — until he left his eye in pledge; and, too often, when we have be come m wise enough to see aright, the time for using the vision is almost past. We struggle against care; it darkens our days, and threatens to overwhelm us. We carry it wearily to our pillows, but it allows us only fitful, broken slumber, haunting us in dreams, and keeping the night watches in wakefulnes and unrest. We toil "For ligh t— for strength to bear Our portion of the weight of eare That crushes into dumb despair One-half the human race." CARE. 223 Why is it that so many fail to learn the happy secret of casting the heavy weight upon Him who has promised to relieve us of the load? "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.'' Is this a difficult thing to do when we know that the Heavenly Friend, who thus assures us of His love, is all powerful, and can take all oppression from the burden His wisdom sees we need? Christ commands that ye "take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with .... cares of this life;'* and they are classed among the symbolic thorns that • spring up and choke the good seed of the Word so that it can "bring no fruit to perfection." What can be more full and tender than the invitation, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved;" and the exhortation, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Because they will not accept this gracious invitation, and forget the exhortation of Infinite Love and Wisdom, many children of The King- are careful and "troubled about many things," 224 A LIFE OF SERVICE. when but one thing is needful to relieve their distress: "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him: and He shall bring it to pass;" or, in the words of Solomon: "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.'' In youth we may sing gaily, "Begone, dull care," without in the least understanding "the heavy and the weary weight of all this unintel- ligible world." Happy are we if we can carry the buoyant spirit into later years, only conse- crating its buoyancy by steadfast confidence in God, and constant faith in the wisdom that appoints our lot in life. A quaint old Spanish proverb says: "In trouble, to be troubled, is to have your trouble doubled;" and so, if we take undue care upon us, each duty becomes a burden. Learn to take but one step at a time, asking for grace and wisdom to take that step aright, and look forward hopefully to the future, believing that God is all-powerful to lighten the seemingly darkened path. Buff on says, that "genius is patience;" and we must often be content to do the best that circumstances allow, and wait quietly and CAKE. 225 peacefully for the result, which will come in God's own good time and way. Turn. then, cheerfully to the next duty; grapple with its difficulties courageously, be- lieving that they are part of the " daily bread** for which we prayed; and that the struggle is to strengthen our souls, and help us to feed upon the true Bread which came down from heaven. This earth is so richly endowed with the material elements of happiness: there is so much that is pleasant to the eye, refreshing to the taste, and elevating to the imagination; there are so many true and beautiful relations and affections to satisfy the heart, that we should cling too closely to its joys, if God did not appoint to each human soul its burden of care or sorrow. He may not see fit to lighten this load: but He can always give us strength to endure, wisdom to understand, and grace to extract the hidden sweetness from the seeming evil. But, besides the care that God sends us, there is very much that is self-inflicted, or made to swell up to a mountain height by 226 A LIFE OF SERVICE. needless aggravation. By living beyond your income, by incurring debt, by extravagance in dress, entertainment, and food; by withholding the tenth from God, and thus defrauding Him of His just dues, you lose His blessing who alone maketh rich and adds no sorrow thereto; and you bring a load of care and perplexity upon yourself and others. If you have the management of your own affairs, never make a purchase unless you can pay for it; wait until the money is in hand, and it may prove that the wish for it was an idle fancy in which you can not afford to indulge. Debt is one of the heaviest cares to an hon- orable mind. If, by the mismanagement of others, you have been so unfortunate as to be immersed in it, direct all your energies to its payment, and never feel that yon can allow yourself any but the simplest necessities of life, until you are again free. To make a purchase when you have no means of payment, is really stealing. It is only those whose sensibilities are dulled from the habit of wrong doing, who can call it anything else. In times of great depression of business, when monied difficul- CARE. 227 ties come to all. it is very perplexing, often, to know the right. Many good people will begin to contract their expenses at the wrong end; the demands of the Church and charity are unheeded, while self-indulgence in dress, food, and luxuries is kept up as before. Reduce these expenses to their lowest level before you rob God of His tithes and offerings. Commit your way, fully, unto the Lord, and implore His constant guid- ance in all your arrangements; look upon each success as coming directly from Him and to be received with grateful thanksgiving. If you have the management of charitable institutions, heed the same scriptural maxim, "Owe no man anything." If God does not give you the means, and if, when you have used all right and energetic methods of obtaining them, the money is still lacking, the burden of care, which the pressure of debt will bring, is more than it is right for you to bear. Exercise a rigid supervision of accounts, that you may not become responsible without your knowledge. All over the country the sad spectacle is seen, of churches struggling beneath heavy liabilities, A LIFE OF SERVICE. which should never have been contracted, and whose energies are paralyzed by the pressure. It is a blessed privilege to aid in building material temples for the Lord of Hosts, and to make beautiful His sanctuary, the place where His honor dwelleth; but it must be justly and honorably done. We have no right to offer anything but our own to the Lord; and a costly building, erected at the expense of the unpaid laborer, is not acceptable to the God of truth and right. It is only a long and weary struggle that can remove such a debt, and the heavy incubus of care it brings upon rector and people. Heaven-sent care is blessed; it will not press down beyond the given strength to endure; but that which we needlessly bring upon ourselves is, indeed, a heavy load, and everywhere you see way worn faces that tell of its weight. Do not think too much of your burden, but learn how to control mental pain as you do physical suffering; and gild the darkened present by eagerly looking forward to that •'Sweet and blessed country, The paradise of joy, Where tears are ever banished, And smiles have no alloy." LETTER XXV, DKESS. "Pilgrims who travel in the narrow way, Should go as little cumbered as they may." XF I understand your question aright, dear 1 L , it is not the abstract one of how much care, thought, time, and money any Christian woman may devote to dress: but how much is consistent for you in giving up yourself to a life of service. ''The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy, both in body and in spirit;" but she that "is married, careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband." A due attention to tasteful dress is one of these things which a wise matron will never neglect. While "she stretcheth out her hand to the poor, giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.'* "she maketh herself 230 A LIFE OF SERVICE. coverings of tapestry, and her clothing is silk and purple." But to accomplish this, it is recorded of that good wife, "she riseth also while it is yet night," and "her candle goeth not out by night." If you have plenty of money and can order fashionable dresses, ready-made from the shops, you may find time to wear them without neglecting other duties; but limited incomes will not admit of this expenditure, and it requires careful thought to adapt and arrange unsuitable materials to the ever-changing forms decreed by the latest style. "Ich dien" (I serve) is the motto worn beneath the three feathers of a royal house; and all the incidents of life must be arranged to carry out that legend fully. Your dress must be serviceable, suitable, inexpensive, and unobtrusive. As you expect to brave all winds and weathers, you must wear warm, though light garments, in winter. You cannot afford the time and strength required to manage a train in the street, or the risk to cleanliness and neatness; so you must disregard fashion there. A few minutes will often be all DRESS. 231 the time you can use in which to change your garments, so that they must be simple in form, and not encumbered by heavy flounces and trimmings. "The King's business,** now. as in the days of old. often requireth "haste," and if you wear elaborate decorations they will constantly be in your way. Flounces entangle the hasty feet, catch upon the furniture, add unnecessary weight to the skirt, and require much time for their suitable arrangement. A good rule is to wear the simplest garment you can, without attracting attention. I was once deeply interested in an argument between two pious orthodox Friends. Of equal intelligence and philanthropy, and giving their time and wealth freely to advance the welfare of their fellows, one wore the plain dress in beau- tiful perfection, and the other ordered her dresses ready made, with some regard to the simplest fashion of the day. The conversation began by the latter, saying, as if resuming a former discus- sion: "My dear friend S . I was driving rapidly past the mountain hotel, when thy dress caught my eye, conspicuous among the gaily 232 A LIFE OF SERVICE. dressed ladies on the piazza; and I thought that surely no one but thee could have the hardihood to be so different from everyone else." Very good humoredly they discussed the matter. D said that "a plain dress appeared as if inviting attention to the wearer, as saying: 'See how good I am; I wear such an ugly bonnet, and such a short, scant skirt; I never indulge in any colors but soft grays, dark browns, or silky drabs. True, it takes a long- time to find them, and their fine texture is expensive; but everyone knows that I am a standing protest against the folly of fashion and extravagance in dress.' .... But, by placing thyself upon such a pinnacle of superiority, thou marrest thy influence, or, at least, dost restrict it to the narrow bounds of our own society." I was much interested in noticing the two Friends brought together in a crowded place of summer resort in the mountains. "Friend S " was loved by a few who treasured her words of wisdom, and rejoiced in the loveliness of charac- ter hidden under her plain exterior; but "Friend D " was the chosen guide and counsellor of DRESS. 233 the whole house. The college boys confided their perplexities to her, and many a gaily- dressed lady told her of the cares that pressed heavily upon her. To all, her happy spirit, broad sympathy, and earnest goodness were most attractive, and the sentiment of the house- hold was expressed by an outspoken youth, who said: ;; I never knew before that a Quaker could be so charming!" The spirit of one of Warwick's aphorisms is what we must regard in such a case, and remember, "that Plato possessed his rich bed with less pride than Diogenes trampled upon it." Dress simply, because it requires less time, thought, and money, and be careful to bestow all you thus gain upon active service for others. Fashionable dressing is generally prejudicial to health. The tightly-fitting garments contract the delicate organs of the chest, impede the circulation, and prevent the limbs from enjoying the graceful action which nature prompts. Sometimes the despotic monarch, known as "Style," decrees that we must wear no extra wrappings when we go out from a heated room into the piercing cold of winter; and coughs, 234 A LIFE OF SERVICE. and, perhaps, rapid consumption follow quickly in the wake, to the obedient devotee to this cruel tyrant. This is sinful tampering with the laws of health, and comes within range of the Sixth Commandment. The constant change which fashion requires, consumes time and thought; and, if you consult health, modesty, comfort, convenience, and economy, you will avoid much of this trouble. Be careful not to judge people by their dress, or, in the language of the quaint Warwick: "value the worthiness of the wearer by the worth of his apparel. Adam was most gallantly apparelled when he was innocently naked." If, in obedience to the wishes of others, you, at suitable times, wear rich clothing, be careful to lay it aside when you are engaged in your religious duties. Dress plainly in the Sunday School, and in the House of God; not only lest '•The Sunday garment, glittering gay, The Sunday heart will steal away," but, that your example may encourage others to do the same; and that poor persons may not feel themselves out of place amid the gaily dressed throng. "My House shall be called a House of DRESS. 235 Prayer for all people." yet thousands are kept from their Father's earthly habitation, because they cannot dress as well as the majority who worship there. Cleanliness, neatness, sobriety, and taste can govern your toilette in poverty as in wealth; and the money that the elaborate wardrobe would cost, in the latter case, may be devoted to the claims of the needy. A generous-hearted girl whom we knew, whose father gave her a liberal monthly allowance for dress, was accus- tomed to share it equally with a friend, who was the daughter of a struggling widow, and both had neat and comfortable clothing to enjoy together This was true affection and unselfish considera- tion, and I wish the spirit were more common. If you are tempted to make an extravagant purchase, consider if you have given to God not only His tenth, but have made free-will offerings for adorning His Sanctuary, and spreading abroad the joyful tidings of salvation. Is there no struggling parish you can aid, after you have considered the claims of your own? Is your rector placed above the harrowing care that insufficient means bring to one, whose position 236 A LIFE OF SERVICE. calls upon him to exercise, constantly, the duty of hospitality? Learn, then, to deny yourself, that you may render his burden less onerous; and you will wear your simple dress in quiet content, when its simplicity has brought relief to a friend. To purchase a handsome costume, when you cannot pay for it at once, is a risk of principle. One expensive article will lead to another to correspond, until, with little difficulty, large sums of money are expended in apparel. Thus arrayed are the human butterflies, who never have a penny to spare for others' needs; whose jeweled fingers never cast any of their burdens into the treasury of the Lord. They are up early in the morning that they may gain time for the elaborate decorations that encom- pass them; and their own life, and that of those dependent upon them, is saddened by the care they bestow upon their outward adornment. Dress makes much unhappiness in these days of extravagant living, and depressed finances. Everywhere the careworn mother is overworked to satisfy the demands of would-be DRESS, 237 fashionable children; and peevishness, discon- tent, envy, and jealousy constantly embitter the life of home. The one-seventh of time that is God's portion, is too often used to arrange and discuss the carefully prepared dress, and the heart is filled with the pomps and vanities of the worJd it has solemnly promised to renounce. LETTER XXVI, DELICACY. "Besides what is strictly called Duty, there are some things not determined by precise rules, but which are • nevertheless prescribed by delicacy. Here definitions fail and moral sentiment must enlighten us. What precepts cannot provide for, will be inspired by that instinct of a generous heart, which is surer than all precepts." Degerando. MNOWING you to be gifted truly with a generous heart, whose instincts will teach you much, I am sure you do not need any "precepts" on the subject suggested by your last letter. You tell me of a friend, whose manners society calls good, whose intellect is superior, and whose character, in many points, is congenial; but who is constantly giving and receiving offense, the cause of which you cannot understand. I think it will be found in the want of delicacy, that "flower of justice" whose sweet perfume lends a rare grace to the actions, and sheds harmony over discordant elements. DELICACY. 239 Perhaps there is no one quality more desir- able in a constant companion, than that quick perception of what is painful to a friend, and of the subjects which annoy and irritate; and which discerns at once the bounds of reserve which should never be passed. You will sometimes see members of the same family strikingly deficient in this admirable qimlity; and, in the presence of strangers, with a singular want of propriety, they will bring forward many of the little peculiarities of their relatives, hold them up to ridicule, laugh at them, and seem to find a malicious satisfaction in revealing that which every feeling of refinement would scrupulously conceal. One would think that family pride would teach the opposite course, even if delicacy were unknown. A husband, whose native coarseness is thinly veiled by the usages of polite society, will tell you various little circumstances about his wife, which his obtuseness considers amusing; and you are obliged to sit by and calmly hold your peace, while this torture is being inflicted on a sensitive nature. The banter may be good humored, but it contains a hidden sting; and if 240 A LIFE OF SEEVICE. you cannot actively express your disapprobation, at least, let your silence signify disapproval. Two very intimate friends, in visiting together, will wholly consume the time by thus torment- ing each other; and while you would imagine such conduct would make them bitter foes, they consider it a test of friendship, and will tell you gaily, after a protracted skirmish of this kind, "E does not, in the least, mind what I say to her !" In your intercourse with poor people, study all the requirements of delicacy as scrupulously as you do in your own circle of friends. Justice teaches us regard for the rights of others, and delicacy gives true insight into hidden thoughts and feelings which will prevent you from wounding them. Observe little things as tests of character, and never fall into the rude habits which often prevail where you might expect more refinement. In the intimacy of confiden- tial friendship, many things will come to your knowledge which you must consider as a sacred trust, and never, by word or look, betray them. In caring for the sick in other people's houses, you are necessarily admitted to an acquaintance DELICACY. 241 with much that is concealed from the world: veil your eyes, and your thoughts, even, and refuse to admit the sights. Who has not appreciated the rare delicacy of clergymen and physicians, who see human nature with its armour off. while going into families when illness and sorrow have broken down the ordinary defences? This reserve deepens the delicacy that produces it: and though the annals of medicine have been disgraced by an Abernethy. who prided himself upon his brutality and coarseness, high-toned courtesy and unaffected refinement are the characteristics of the noble profession of healing. Some of the most perfect gentlemen I have ever seen, have been physicians; and their delicacy of perception makes their services invaluable when illness deepens the sensitive- ness of every nerve, and pain and fever render mental suffering acute. "The heart is wise:" and. if we follow its dictates, we shall learn to make the happiness of those we love, by patient study of their tastes, habits, and dispositions. It is easy for a friendly 242 A LIFE OF SERVICE. eye to see a coming blow, and by patient kind- ness deprive it of its force; and then, with true delicacy of feeling, to stand out of sight. The same tenderness may suggest to others little offices of affection, that may come with a better grace from them, and be more acceptable to the recipient than if you yourself rendered them. The charity that "vaunteth not itself .... and seeketh not her own," is fruitful in suggesting ways and means for true delicacy of feeling to manifest itself. The world is full of sorrow; everywhere pale mourners weep over the graves where lie buried their dearest earthly treasures; or, sadder still, fond hearts grieve over those who have strayed from the path of right, and live forgetful of God and duty. Sickness impairs all faculties of usefulness, and the energetic nature, which would find delight in toiling, must be content to see others move the weight its feeble strength cannot grapple. Upon many gifted spirits is laid a strange, mysterious burden of unrest; "Sweet bells jangled, and out of tune," DELICACY. 243 destroy their harmony with themselves and the world about them. Let us recognize these weary ones, and share and sympathise with their sad- ness, if we cannot brighten and remove it. It is a supreme effort of unselfishness to delicately provide for tastes you cannot under- stand, to soothe fears that seem to you cowardly; to answer doubts that are childish, to repeat information on subjects that do not interest you, and patiently remove all causes of mur- muring from the path of the discontented and fretful; to learn where silence is the best, and kindest answer to reproaches, and where it but adds fuel to the flame; and. when the "golden" spell must be broken, how to softly attune the "silvern" speech to the needs of an exacting and undisciplined nature. It is hard " to strive Against one hasty word, one selfish mood And gentle still to be, and kind, and good, In the world's rugged warfare; in the jar Of ill-according spirits, in the mass Of beings, where our daily duties are," but the effort is ennobling, and the earnestness of the aspiration and prayer for strength, to 244 A LIFE 01 E Sim from whom alone it can be obtained ard. The little amenil ies, and mil "fal] |j; on the heart." From a disregard of them, has sprung ien< truth of the old j . that "tl large enough to contai ' and a constant and scrupulous of the n thai delicacy prescribes, has made happy hou oui of seemingly incongruous elements. A party of ten persons were once travelling quiei and thoughtful politei to each othe atle the centre to whom all >\n<\ hy a common tie; she was Lifted from the carriage to the railway car by a stalwart n emed to find ite tendei ion in caring for her; and each member of the party, in some anobl efficiently provided for ber comfort. Our destination chanced to be the same; and we learned afterwards to recognize in that fragile woman one of the world's strong, heroic spirits. She came, a wealthy widow,— into a DELICA< V. *.! 15 Family where not one of the inmi - related ties of consanguinity; but were a mother, ter-in-law, and adopted orphans. Hermonej she used freely to make everj one comfortable; she studied their ta* ftened their disposi- tions by ber gentleness, and. as her son-in-law d, "for fourteen years made their home an i blj paradise; not a discordant word is e spoken ther< \ v she? as si ro l> dj ing of mortal dise but, courageous to the last, was pleasing ber friends bj travelling in the vain bope of relief, and keeping them all bappj and useful aboul her. We found here the "Records of a Quiet Life," like that of the Hares of Burstmonceaux, and a Maria Leycester in an humbler station. Each was a bond of anion between men and women of widely differing natures, diffusing something of her own sweetness over them all; and, bj her delicate perceptions, reading aright h \ arying range of thought, and instinctivelj ai erting all causes i >f discord. The one whom her adopted son. and biog- pher, calls "the central figure <>f the pictui 246 A LIFE OF SERVICE. — Mrs. Augustus Hare — : ruled in that most beautiful type of a true home, an English rectory. At Alton and Hurstmonceaux, her high breeding, devout culture, and earnest thought, brought about her the first minds of the age; and their intellectual, social, and religious life, is deeply interesting. Our friend was the wife of a lumberman on the great lakes, who owned large tracts of forest land, swept by the cold, northern breezes there. Native good sense, and earnest piety, aided by genuine delicacy of character, taught her the rare w T isdom she displayed in her family, and made her one of the world's ruling spirits. "When gentleness with strength we find, The tender with the sweet combined, The harmony is sweet and strong." While delicacy has open eyes for all the good traits of others, and loves to develop and men- tion them, it treads with veiled lids amid their defects and failings. It will cover with the flowers of affection, many an unsightly gap, and with graceful forbearance, bring, what Milton calls the "thousand decencies'" of life, to fill up its waste places. LETTER XXVII. CONVERSATION. "It is not wisdom in itself, ic is the manner of imparting it, that affects the soul, and alone deserves the name of eloquence." Landor. "In general it is a proof of high culture to say the greatest matters in the simplest way. " Emerson. JT is not conversation as a fine art, and a means of acquiring great influence in society, to which you ask me to direct your thoughts; but the speech of the good woman, who "openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in whose tongue is the law of kindness." This can come alone out of "the abundance of the heart;** but careful thought can guide its flow aright, and, by understanding the mighty power of words for good or evil, we learn to restrain the idle ones, and improve the opportunities, that come to all, of sending out the "ambassador of the mind** on errands of love and mercy. 248 A LIFE OF SERVICE. There are times when politeness requires that we should speak; and conversation will divert sad thoughts, and direct them to Him who can bring the brightness of heaven to illuminate and dispel their sadness. We must speak truly; and to unite truth with kindness we must drive out prejudice, and cherish only good feelings toward everyone; so that the gentle interest we manifest in words, is really the sincere expression of our hearts. We must understand that conversation is not monologue, and the happy art of listening well is essential to its success. Use the simplest words that adapt themselves to daily need, and do not suppose that high sounding phrases show wisdom or learning. The really wise and learned rarely use them in ordinary speech; and you are very apt to give a wrong pronun- ciation, accent, or meaning, when you attempt sonorous sentences and unfamiliar words in ordinary conversation. You wish to understand the disposition and thoughts of those about you, that you may know best how to serve them; and, to do this, CONVERSATION . 249 you must encourage them to trust in your sym- pathy, and express themselves freely in your presence. A care is often lightened by sharing it with a friend, and a cloud dissipated by calmly discussing it. This is a case in which the wise one will tell you, "love with labour grew, and patient use brought skill," and it is a noble thing to make any grace, and gift of speech you may acquire, the means of soothing, lightening, and, perhaps, healing, the sorrow T of others. It requires a well-disciplined mind to bring- out its treasures of old and new, and mould them into harmonious speech. Chaos is sel- dom interesting, though it may contain in its bosom the rudiments of much that is good and great. But careful education, good sense, fine taste, delicate discrimination, and right feeling, must preside over agreeable conversation. The first teaches us what to say. the second when to say it, and the others how to make the saying- free from offence to others. You may think this is too serious a view to take of ordinary conversation, which is often used to prevent awkwardness, or cover embar- 250 A LIFE OF SERVICE. rassment when people meet; and that to be continually thinking whether it is right to express this feeling, or best to restrain that emotion, would produce stiffness and unpleasant reserve. To study our words seems pompous, or con- ceited, and to justify the remark of a shrewd foreigner, who said of the Americans: " What- ever they say, has a little the air of making a speech." It is not such conversation that you need cultivate; but the happy art of speaking the word "in due season," saying good, kind and true things in an unaffected way. You are "to convert all impediments into instruments, all enemy into power," and make all the resources of your mind and education tributary to the purpose. To speak rightly, you must feel rightly, and be careful to drive away bitter thoughts lest they may tinge your speech. Sometimes a family will allow their conversation to show the envy, prejudice, and uncharitableness which reign in their hearts; and if they are people of intellect and position, their example may be contagious enough to affect a whole community. CONVERSATION. 251 Iii every channel into which the conversation may drift with them, you are startled by a sneer of exciting bitterness: and you leave their company, saddened by the dimness they have cast over many of your cherished projects. Striving for effect often produces this. Some persons define wit as sharp retorts and bitter comments; and others, without stopping to analyze their sayings, repeat them as happy thoughts. There is a sunny fancy that can play the speech, and a merry humor that can extract honey from the jaws of the lion: but it never sends out steel barbed arrows, or mingles vinegar and gall with "the Samaritan's oil on the wounds." The wise man of the Proverbs says: in "'many words there art- divers vanities:" and if you talk a great deal, your conversation will this. "The words of the wise are as g : ds. and as nails fastened by the master of Lssemblies;" wherefore, "let thy words be few," If you acquire the reputation of being a great talker in the usual sense of pouring forth a volume of words, it will restrict your influence: few will listen, and those who do will feel such 252 A LIFE OF SERVICE. weariness from the effort, that they can hardly benefit by your counsels. Good judgment is seldom more strikingly displayed than in finding a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; and in understanding that "the words of wise men are heard in quiet." The great deeds of the world have often been prompted by these few words of wisdom; whispered softly, they have had power to stir the blood and rouse the men of action from the seeming lethargy that has enveloped them. But it is "the little, constant sunbeams, not the lightning; the waters of Siloam that go softly on the meek mission of refreshment, not the waters of the river, great and mighty, rushing down on the torrent's noise and force," that are "the words that prompt the deed," and which Schiller urges women to cultivate. Conversation, not to become wearisome, must dwell little upon personal details, unless they are specially requested by a friend. The long- stories that are so tedious in the repetition, are generally about some insignificant affair of no particular consequence to anybody; and when you have heard to weariness of what "he said" CONVERSATION. 253 and "she said" about it, you wonder that immortal beings can stoop to fill their minds with such trifles. Some carry their fondness for useless matters far back into the past, and will entertain you by an account of their grand-parents' taste and fancies; their "great aunt could never eat bacon,'- or "their father's family all wore their hats upon one side.*' You may think this exaggerated, but I have known people, who. "from morn till dewy eve,"' will talk of such things, and never, by any chance, give you an item of valuable information. The "Conversation classes," that are now so fashionable, may assist ready speakers to choose their words with precision and taste, and encourage the timid to clothe their thoughts in suitable expressions; but they are apt to degen- erate by the discussion of impractical and useless subjects, and lead to affectation and pedantry. The best way to prevent this, is to let law and order reign here, as elsewheie, and confine the conversation to the set subject. "Current Events classes" can be made most interesting, if they are told without heat and 254 A LIFE OF SERVICE. partisanship. Let one person be the leader for the evening with a prepared succession of topics; and each member in turn contribute one unmentioned event in the week's happenings, after the leader has finished. In one such class that was successfully carried on for years, each member took a country for a subject, and under the guidance of the leader, gave an account of the events happening therein. After our own country was finished, England, France, Spain, Scandinavia, Italy, Russia, the Islands of the sea and other countries, were called in turn by their representatives; and the evenings were all too short for the pleasure they afforded. Clothing religious feeling in a set form of words in conversation, and using them without understanding their deep meaning, produces that most offensive thing — "cant", — which disgusts so many persons, and drives them away from the society of those who use it. Mrs. Child gives some excellent advice in this con- nection: "Be true to thyself in religious utterance, or remain forever silent. Speak only according to thine own genuine inward experi- ence; and look well to it, that thou repeatest no CONVERSATION. 255 phrase prescribed by creeds, or familiarly used by sects, unless that phrase conveys some truth into thine own soul." Excellent women often do great injury to the cause they love, by talking much of matters they do not fully understand; and forms of words will roll glibly from their tongues, ready to be caught up and ridiculed by ungodly associates. The influence of truly good and devout clergymen has often been seriously impaired, by the indiscreet conversation of women who were really their friends; and I think you will find it a good rule, never to make him whom God has placed over you in your parish, a theme of ordinary discussion. Accept his teachings where they are in harmony with the word of God and the testimony of the undivided Church, with meekness, and practice them in your life; but do not publicly criticise them and make them a topic of conversation. Hasten to correct any injurious reports that may be spread abroad about clergymen; their position exposes them to such, and a few hasty words may kindle a great fire. Observe Ember Days faithfully — the four seasons when we pray 256 A LIFE OF SERVICE. for the clergy — that the seven-fold gifts of the Spirit may be imparted to them. This "Blessed unction from above Is comfort, light and fire of love," and you may look for this to come upon them in answer to prayer. Be very careful in your speech in drawing near, or coming from, the House of God; and let the reverence you have manifested there quiet your look and manner, and restrain any exuberance of natural spirit. Many an affecting service and solemn sermon have lost their power over a heart touched by the Comforter, from the idle comment and the unkind criticism which some good, but mistaken, woman has made upon it. This seems a peculiar fashion in some small places, where, as soon as the services are over, a babel of tongues will be unloosed, and everyone seems to think it necessary to say something about them; and I am sorry to record that captious, and even cruel, criticism is the rule. A clergyman once overheard a lady make some bitter allusion to his opinions, in reply to a friend who said she was deeply CONVERSATION. 257 impressed by his earnestness, eloquence and godly life. He turned to her and said, ''Madame, you are a religious woman, but whose work are you doing now? Is it God's friend who takes His word from the tender soil, or is it the devil's?" Think of this when you speak of holy things; and pray "that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God,"' you may have your •'conver- sation in the world." St. Paul exhorted the believers to "only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ." St. James says, "Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom:*' "the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated:'* and St. Peter urges, "But as He which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation,*- that those without "may be won*' by it to the word of truth. The promise is. "To him that ordereth his conver- sation aright, will I show the salvation of God.** LETTER XXVIII. GOSSIP. "Believe not each accusing tongue, As most weak persons do; But still believe that story wrong "Which ought not to be true." Sheridan. "When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody will believe them." Plato. XT requires nice powers of perception to define •**- the delicate boundaries between conversa- tion and gossip, and a happy tact to gracefully check its flow when it is nearing the dividing- line. When w r e love a person, all his joys and sorrows interest us, and the events of his daily life are to us, matters of deep concern. When these are open to the eyes of the world, w T e can but hear the communication with sympathetic emotion; but there is a sacredness in all strong feeling that prompts us to make little comment gossip. 259 upon them to indifferent people, and to be tender and watchful in approaching the subject with friends. An old writer gives us three sieves to use in our speech about others, and warns us not to allow our tongues to utter anything that will not pass through them all: "Is it true, is it kind, is it necessary?'- Many items of infor- mation that may be true, it is very unkind and wholly unnecessary to repeat. It is not always easy to find out what is the actual amount of credibility to be given to any statement; the position and prejudice of the witness is so apt to color the narrative, and so many circum- stances affect the estimate which is made of it, that it needs the training of an acute lawyer to disentangle the truth from the mass of incohe- rent testimony. Do not, therefore, believe evil of any one, unless your understanding is fully convinced of it; and do not allow your likes and dislikes of a person to influence you unduly. An indi- vidual may be wanting in tact, forgetful of good manners, and careless and selfish to such a degree that you shrink from all association 260 A LIFE OF SERVICE. with him; but he may be innocent of the grosser offences society will be quick to believe of him. Love will make you careful only to yield to strong conviction before believing ill of a friend; and justice will exercise the same office in weighing evidence against strangers. There are so many high and noble things in nature, in art, in religion, in life, and in books, for subjects of conversation, there are so many needful consultations with the wise, practical and good, as to the best ways of serving others, that it seems as if only a vacant mind could find leisure for gossip. But it is not always so; habit is very strong, and men and women of a high degree of intellectual development, will use their powers to adorn their stories with the braveries of wit, and render its sting more poisonous and lasting, from being clothed in striking phrases. The temptation w T ill come to you even in your life of service; for, unfortunately, there is such a thing as religious gossip, and your intimate knowledge of other people's concerns, acquired in your ministrations among them, may render you a sort of authority in such gossip. 261 matters. Be very sure that it is necessary before you use this knowledge, and that the good gained by thus using it, is greater than the evil resulting from your breaking the fixed rule of guarding your speech, lest you betray confidence. You may know that your friend. or patient, has doubts concerning some of the articles of the Christian faith, the efficacy of the Sacraments, or the power of prayer. It is neither right, nor kind, to mention this indis- criminately; but you may, confidentially, tell some discreet ;; minister of God's Word,*' that he may be able, in private or public, to answer this doubt, and establish the Scriptural view of the Sacraments and prayer. Some communities are iDarticularly noted for the amount of gossip that is circulated in them: and it is often sufficient to disprove a story, to say that it originated in B . Villages are supposed to be peculiarly liable to this failing; but I think that it is likely to be more harmless than that of cities. In small places the whole community live in the eyes of the rest, and a false report is soon disproved by circumstances. But in large places intercourse is limited, and 262 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. months sometimes pass without bringing togeth- er members of a large circle, so that the subtle untruth has time to work its cruel way uncon- tradicted. At country tea parties, or formal dinners, you seldom hear anything more formidable said by way of gossip, than, "Mr. D. is paying attention to Miss A; he walked home from Church with her last Sunday;" or, "Mr. C, is going to be married for the third time; how shocking!" But in cities more serious charges often are brought against absent friends, and stories ruinous to their reputations are circulated without knowing, or caring, for their truth or falsehood. And to "round a period or adorn a tale," clever, witty, but often wicked things, are said of others. Be very careful not to give any food for gossip yourself, by a circumspect, guarded, demeanor; do not laugh or talk loudly any where, but particularly on the street, and in public places; and do not, if possible to avoid it, stand conversing there. Be quiet and reverent, in your necessary intercourse with the clergy; recollect that careless words and acts have often gossip. 263 marred the life and influence of a priest of God. An unfounded slander preyed upon the spirits of a brilliant young Churchman, whose opening career was full of promise; and led to early madness, and a suicide ? s death. An elderly lady in the place where it occurred, said: " It all began with that poor Miss H ; she is really so silly as to be hardly responsible, but she would always keep her clergyman talking to her upon the street corners, and her senseless laugh there attracted much attention." If you should be so unfortunate as to be a subject of gossip, let it teach you wisdom, and "one heavenward little step — humility." Bonaventure gives most excellent advice in such a case that you cannot think of too often. "Be" not angry with those that speak ill of you; for either what they say of you is true or false; if it is true, you must not wonder that they dare say what you dare do; if it is false, their detrac- tion can do yon no harm. But if, notwithstand- ing, any motion of anger should arise, repress it, and suffer all with patience, as one suffers the fire when applied to a wound; for as the fire heals the wound, even so the detraction you 264 A LIFE OF SERVICE. suffer will perhaps cure of some secret pride, which for sometime you have entertained and taken pleasure in." While the busy tongues of mischief-makers are speaking ill of you, be very patient and meek, and never return railing for railing. Be quiet and confident that, in the Lord's own good time and way, He "shall make thy righteousness as clear as the light, and thy just dealing as the noonday." This quietness, meekness, and sure trust in the Lord, is a death-blow to false speaking; and when the trial has served the purpose God has seen necessary to your soul's health, it is generally withdrawn. But let the pain it causes teach you to be very careful in believing and repeating such gossip of others. Reputation is a fragile thing, and a stone thrown against it is perilous. Even " the crushed flower will leave a stain" that subse- quent tears and penitence cannot wipe out. Be very careful in speaking of religious things, that you do not adopt a light and gossiping tone. You will hear the most elevat- ing themes mentioned in such careless speech that at first you are shocked; and really good gossip. 265 women will rattle off a list of church services, retreats. " Quiet days,'* and " Missions" they have attended, as gaily as if they were concerts or balls. Do not, if possible, mention such things before indifferent people, and do not speak of popular clergymen in tones of extrava- gant and fulsome eulogy, nor praise their per- sonal qualities, such as their voice, their smiles, gesture, or appearance. If the Spirit of God is with them, their ministrations will be blessed; but, many a worldly man has been disgusted and kept from partaking of this blessing, by the excessive praise that has been bestowed upon the ministering clergy, and the indiscreet attentions of unwise women. God has committed the ministry of His Word and Sacraments to men, liable, without the help of His grace, to all the failings and limitations of our race. They must toil for wisdom, and pay the bitter price experience exacts for its les- sons; they, like others, must 11 learn in Him; And through patient suffering, teach The secret of enduring strength And praise too deep for speech." Shall not all Christian people sympathize with the pupils in this high school, and wait for 266 A LIFE OF SERVICE. the peaceable fruits of righteousness that are brought us by those commissioned to teach from above? In quiet rectories, often unknown and unnoticed by the world, lives of humble and self-sacrificing devotion are being led, of which the world is not worthy. By most rigid econ- omy, only, is the wolf kept from the door, while the inmates give themselves freely to the Lord; visiting the sick and afflicted, teaching the lambs of the flock, keeping the fires of the altar burning fresh and bright, and, by tender sym- pathy for all suffering, making their light to shine often amid surrounding worldiness. Pray for all who are called to any office and adminis- tration in the Church, that they may be replen- ished with the truth of God's doctrine, and endued with "innocency of life;" but let their lives and homes be safe from the scourge of gossijnng tongues, and the broad shield of loving charity be thrown over all they do or say. Augustus W. Hare, in reply to some complaint that had been made in relation to feeble ministration in a church at L said: "It is one of the advantages of our good Church gossip. 267 that we. (meaning by "we" he educated) are only very partially dependent on the qualifica- tions of the Minister. If he can read, and most clergymen can do that much, he must read the liturgy; all his stupidity, if he be stupid, all his carelessness, if he be careless, cannot unmake that into anything unscriptural or undevotional. As to the sermon, Herbert has said enough about that; you know Who, according to him, when the preacher is incapable, takes up the text and preaches patience/' LETTEK XXIX. MISTAKES. "And yet a child learns to walk by falling down. All that we learn that is worth learning, we learn by our own mistakes. We value nothing that is freely given to us. " Fouch. "Next to the folly of doing a bad thing, is that of fearing to undo it. " Friends in Council. X DO not think that you should give way to -1- feelings of discouragement, and the incli- nation to pause in your life's work because, as you say, you "make so many mistakes." This is a necessary consequence of all human effort, and our best learning is that which is deeply im- pressed upon our minds in consequence of these very failures. Only be careful to take heed to the lesson, ponder the cause of the error, and avoid it in future. Some mistakes are from our own want of judgment, and the result of heedlessness and MISTAKES. 269 inattention. Ruskin says: "We are not sent into this world to do anything into which we cannot put our hearts;" and our work i; is to be done heartily," not ;i by halves or shifts, but with a will; and what is not worth this effort is not to be done at all." Some make constant mistakes from want of thoroughness which hearty work gives. They cannot look into details; and they have a care- less impression that it will all come out right somehow, whether it is well managed or not. " To err is human," but such a course is full of error. Guard against it by praying " Heaven for firmness thy whole soul to bind To this thy purpose — to begin, pursue, With thoughts all fixed, and feelings purely kind, Strength to complete, and with delight review, And grace to give the praise where all is ever due." Unless you have this steady eye and firm resolve, you tread a path whose uncertainty will cause many faltering steps, much blind stumb- ling, and, perhaps, many grievous mistakes. But I am sure you are fully persuaded of the right; and the failures you lament are in the execution, not in the intention. You hear it 270 A LIFE OF SEKVIOE. said constantly, in excuse for strange inconsis- tencies which stain the name of Christian, *'He is a good man, but oh! so mistaken!' 7 What is the secret worm which eats out the heart of good resolves, and prevents the bursting forth of the full flower of heavenly grace ? It is often some obstinate clinging to pride, prejudice, or uncharitableness; some darling sin you cherish in your heart of hearts; some brother offended whom you refuse to humble yourself to win back; some injury that you will not forgive — as you hope to be forgiven — fully and freely for Christ's sake. And the heavens seem like brass above you; for not a shower of refreshing will come to weary and wounded ones, while they close their hearts to the tender call of the All-Merciful One; and in the dark- ened way, from which their own fault shuts out the light, they painfully grope, and long for day. Examine yourself carefully, "lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you;" and see if you are cherishing unkind feelings against any fellow creature. Abstract prejudices often injure the character, and give a wrong bias to MISTAKES. 271 the mind. Mrs. Augustus Hare writes in her note-book: ; I should like to add a word to one of the petitions in the Litany, saying. 'Forgive us our sins, negligences, ignorances and preju- dices." " How many wrong thoughts of others, false estimates of things, and self-delusions, are the result of prejudices formed hastily or from some bias of feeling: from drawing conclusions on insufficient knowledge, or too great confi- dence in our own judgment! If from any of these causes you have made mistakes, hasten to do all in your power to rectify them and to avert their consequences. Do not hesitate to acknowledge them, and freely and cheerfully to undo, as far as possible. Confess yourself a learner, an humble scholar in the lessons of Christ's school, and receive with meekness and submission your appointed task. Often the best laid plans fail, the most matured thought and careful working seem utterly unsuccessful; and in silent sadness we grieve over the ruin of our hopes. This is a trial of faith and patience: but. though a bitter experience to the young and ardent, we may 272 A LIFE OF SERVICE. live to bless God for these mistakes, and see how His wisdom was teaching us to mount, by them, nearer to the Source of all strength. If everything moved with perfect smoothness, and there were no jar or friction to arrest our attention, we might trust too much to the machinery; and forget that the steady pulsation, the rhythmic beat, the measured advance and recoil are not inseparable from the grand proportions of even a Corliss engine. A little wheel will creak, a little rod slacken; and the oil that lubricates, and the steam that puts in motion the whole magnificent creation of man's skill, require attention. One fruitful source of mistakes is want of system, and definite preparation for duty. Your faculties must be trained before you can take the oversight; and while the many details must be left to subordinates, you must understand the degree of their capacities and the amount of faithfulness that can be expected from them, before much trust can be placed in them. Some people have a boundless faculty for forgetting; and when serious consequences arise from this fault they think ample atone- MISTAKES. 273 ment is made by the confession, " I never thought of it once!" Be careful not to show irritation, and do everything possible to repair the omission; but see in the future that the confirmed forgetters have nothing of moment entrusted to them, and are placed where no one will suffer severely from their want of memory, but themselves. The wife of a clergyman who had recently taken charge of a large suburban parish, was superintending for the first time there, the preparations for the Christmas trees for the Sunday and parish schools. As they were large, it was usual to divide the work among committees, one of which purchased toys, another books, another sweets, etc; and it was agreed that all purchases should be brought in ten days before the Festival. A bright-looking young lady said: "I have never been on any such committees, but as 1 often go into town I can easily buy what is required." So it was agreed that she should purchase all articles of clothing that were to be distrib- uted among the needy children of the schools, as presents, — caps, hoods, jackets, scarfs, ' and 274 A LIFE OF SEEVICE. overshoes; and she promised to show her zeal by buying them the next day. Christmas eve came and every article was labelled and hung on the tree, but these, the most important ones. When they were sent for, the message was returned that the young lady was still in town, but expected to come back in time for the lighting of the tree, and would then bring the presents with her. Another messenger, sent on the night of the Festival while the children were singing their carols, was informed that the young lady had returned "too tired to come, and would some- body please look after her class!"' More than half the school, and that the most important part, were left quite unprovided with gifts; the children of the rich had their portfolios, work boxes, and books; but the warm garments ordered for the needy, w T ere never found until the next August! This is not at all uncommon; people who readily promise, often forget the performance; mislay valuable articles entrusted to them, and often cannot be relied upon to do anything in MISTAKES. 275 time. Conceit, and an undue estimate of one's own powers, cause many mistakes. Never take upon you other people's duties, and be careful that your chosen field does not intrench upon that of your neighbour. There may be times, when, in the good providence of God, you may be called upon to attempt more than nature has fitted you to encounter, because there is no one else who can, or will, do it. While humbly confessing your inability, and seeking strength from God to repair your defi- ciencies, do not grieve too despondently if you fail. At a Lenten service held in an underground room, where the light of a rainy day came dimly through the soiled window panes, an aged lady, at the request of the rector, attempt- ed to raise the tunes of the hymns, which was all the music used at the week-day services. Her feeble, quivering notes were too uncertain for the congregation to follow; she could not see the words, and most discordant singing was the result. A chivalrous young man present had his sympathies so excited by the agitation and distress of his old friend, that he said: 276 A LIFE OF SERVICE. "This shall never happen again. I cannot sing, but I can pay a choir master to train those who can conduct the praises of the Sanctuary in Lent." And that heroic effort, and mortifying- defeat, were the beginning of better things for the parish of St. B . They soon gave up that wretched basement, the remembrance of whose dimness and dampness recalls a shudder, and found that the church was the proper place for Daily Prayer, and the organ a suitable ac- companiment for the week-day praise. The very earnestness and strength of our impulses will sometimes lead us into mistakes. We often "Stand blind on the rocks, To choose the right paths from the wrong;" and native impetuosity and unselfishness may lead us into error. Time will sober this hasty zeal, and chasten the undisciplined impulse, if you are careful to recognize and correct its mistakes. To look for high moral worth and unblem- ished integrity, where there is no Christian principle upon which to build the fair structure, MISTAKES. 277 is expecting beautiful flowers and fruit when no seed is planted. If a child plays with edged tools, serious injuries may be the conse- quence: and if you form your friendships among those who do not sympathise with your highest and purest feelings, you make a mistake that may darken your life. Thus you may "Choose, perhaps, a love-lit health, instead of love and heaven, A single rose, for a rose-tree, which beareth seven times seven; A rose that droppeth from the hand, that fadeth from the breast: Until in grieving for the worst, we learn what is the best." God allows us to fall into error, and suffer the consequences of our own mistakes, that we may learn to depend more entirely upon Him; to follow the lamps He has lighted, instead of the delusive shining of earthly tapers; and to hear, amid the sound of many voices, the call of ;, the Spirit and the Bride." to come and drink of the "pure river of the water of life, pro- ceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb." J LETTER XXX. THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE. "Rather is it (the Holy Book) afield, upon the surface of which, if sometimes we gather manna easily and without labor, and given, as it were, freely to our hands, yet of which also many portions are to be cultivated with pains and toil, ere they will yield food for the use of man." Archbishop Trench. O much has been said and written of the un- failing treasures found in God's Word, that it seems almost presumptuous to attempt to add anything to these writings of the wise. Yet the oft quoted comparison of Gregory the Great, in his Commentary on Job, is full of significance. The Scripture is "a river, with depths in which an elephant might swim, and shallows which a lamb might ford;" and it is a heavenly condes- cension that allows the mighty, moral precepts, the tender comfortings, the daily guidance, and hourly directions for our life and duty, to be plain enough for a child to understand; and the THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE. 279 path of holiness so pointed out. that "the way- faring men, though fools, shall not err therein."' While the Spirit can reveal the deep things, the hidden riches of His Word to the simple: and babes can catch the echoes of mighty truths hidden "from the wise and prudent," yet patient, prayerful study, throws light upon much concealed wisdom, and mysterious sweet- ness rewards the faithful seeker after truth. "A man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: to understand a proverb and the in- terpretation, the words of the wise and their dark sayings." Spinoza brings the charge against the Bible that it everywhere recognizes the sovereignty of man over the creation: that it "speaks rather of a God of men, than a Creator of the universe:" and the undevout astronomer will tauntingly ask, why such a little world, amid the untold myriads that pursue their silent way through space, should have been selected as the theatre of the sublime spectacle of the Incarnation of the Son of God. But David, too, considered the "heavens, the work of Thy fingers: the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;*' and 280 A LIFE OF SERVICE. in wonder asked. "What is man that Thou art mindful of him ? . . . . For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor." The Mosaic record furnishes us with the reply, that it pleased God to make us in His own image; and the council of the Trinity said, "Let us make man.... after our likeness; and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowls of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth." Faith meekly answers to this, as to all other mysteries of life and death, "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight." Our first motive in studying the Scriptures is that they may make us wise unto salvation; that we may find there the guidance we all need in the chances and changes of this mortal life; and Ruskin says, that "we use it most reverently when most habitually; our insolence is in ever acting without reference to it; our use of it is in its universal application. We have its sacred words not often enough on our lips, nor deeply enough in our memories, nor loyally enough in our own lives." Ask God to help THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE. 281 you in your study, to open your eyes that you may see the wonders of His Word, that the Holy Spirit may touch your heart, and make it quick to respond to its heavenly teachings. If. from constant reading, you find the text of our ordinary English translation of the Bible makes not the vivid inrpression upon your eye and mind necessary to bring out its mean- ing, try a French or German Bible for your study. The French version has many little delicacies of thought, and the latter is particu- larly full of life and vigor from the terse idiom of the language. Luther, I believe, did not understand Hebrew, and translated from the Vulgate, so that you go back to St. Jerome and the fourth century, even as John de Wycliffe did, whose translation in the fourteenth cen- tury is the basis of our present English Bible. "The Bishops* Bible, " and that of King James, are mainly "former translations diligently com- pared and revised." If the aim of your life was study instead of service, you might find time for controversial writing; but as a recent divine says truly, "Unbelief was the parent of criticism, not the 282 A LIFE OF SERVICE. criticism of the unbelief;" men impugn the faith because they do not wish to believe it; and as Claudius writes, thus "frizzle at the evening cloud which floats over the surface of the full moon; but the full moon behind is left in its still repose." "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God;" and if you faithfully practice all you know and study in the Word of God, it will be a lamp whose increasing light will drive away all dark shadows of doubt and uncertainty. One of the most careful scholars of the age, whose learning is only equalled by his humble piety, writes: "This has been, for some thirty years, a deep conviction of my soul, that no book can be written in defence of the Bible like the Bible itself. Man's defences are man's word; they may help to beat off attacks; they may draw out some portion of its meaning. The Bible is God's Word, and through it, God, the Holy Ghost, who spake it, speaks to the soul which closes not itself against it." Compare Scripture with Scripture; follow subjects by the aid of a reference Bible; write THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE. 283 out each verse and parallel passage fully, that you may examine them all together; and if you have access to plenty of good books, read what the best authors say of the force of the original; but never forget that "faith is from first to last the gift of God. Whatever precedes, accom- panies, follows faith, is of Him .... Perseverance to the end in faith is His crowning gift.... Faith rests not on reasoning or proof; although it uses them, it sees the Unseen, the Invisible. It sees, because it believes; it believes, because it loves."' Write resumes of Bible history and charac- ters, and accustom yourself to notice those minute touches, and those graphic words by which the sacred writers convey so much to your mind. Do not stifle doubt but track it to its home, and kill it by the certainty of fuller knowledge. Kemember always, as Professor Newcombe says, "that the limits of our knowledge are not necessarily the limits of possibility, that patient, prayerful searching of the Scriptures will be rewarded, if not by the full radiance of the light of truth shining upon the mind, by 284 A LIFE OF SERVICE. the sweetness of submission to the divine will, which worketh in many ways above the compre- hension of mortal vision. But beware of seeking for doubt, of reading to cavil, of making the end of search the discovery that nothing certain is to be found; and, under the name of progress, drifting back to the condition of heathen skepticism before Christ came, the Light and the Truth." Speak of the Holy Word with the utmost reverence; never quote it lightly, or point jests, by expressions from its sacred pages. Be careful in repeating anecdotes, that they do not contain allusions that will destroy the force of certain passages from the Bible, or implant mirthful associations with what we should reverence so highly. Treat your Bible with outward, as well as inward, honour; do not pile other books upon it, but remember how the pious young King Edward VI. rebuked the courtier w T ho brought him a large Bible to stand upon, by which to reach the higher shelves of the library: "We should treasure the Word of God in our hearts, not trample it under our feet." THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE. 285 We have noticed before bow expressive is the very silence of the Scriptures: as Boyle writes: "There is such fulness in that book, that oftentimes it says much bysaying nothing; and not only its expressions, but its silences, are teaching: like a dial, in which the shadow as well as the light informs us." Do not cultivate a critical spirit, and. unless you have leisure for deep study, prefer the practical to the contro- verted portions of Holy Writ: believing with the learned doctors and wise men. who tell us that though there is much above human reason, there is nothing contrary to it. While you patiently and faithfully study the Scriptures, remember that it is your duty to show forth this study in your heart and life. Xot by learned words and fluent speech, but by the gentleness of Christ, the cheerful submission to the will of God. the humble following of the meek and lowly Jesus, and the quiet cultivation of all those gifts and graces of the Spirit that are so fully described upon the Sacred Page. While the "Daily Prayers" used in the synagogue have an essential likeness to our own. they have more traces of Orientalism left in 286 A LIFE OF SERVICE. them. Let me quote one of these for the hint contained in it. Upon the opening page is the direction: "On entering the synagogue, bow towards the Ark, and say: 4 In the greatness of Thy benev- olence will I enter Thy house; in reverence of Thee I bow toward the temple of Thy Holi- ness .... Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God ! King of the Universe; Who hast not made me a woman.' y [The women say, "Blessed art Thou, O God, King of the Universe; Who hast made me according to Thy will."] In all the limitations in study as in action, that the feebleness and deficiencies of your nature will impose upon you, say always in humility and reverence, "It is the will of God." LETTER XXXI. CONTENTMENT. "Let me not aim beyond my measure, But in my place be still content, To do Thy will be all my pleasure For this let all my life be spent." "Oontentedness in all estates is a duty of religion; it is the great reasonableness of complying with the Divine Providence which governs the world, and hath so ordered us in the administration of His great family." Bishop Jeremy Taylor. TIEN we can once bring our minds and hearts to the assured belief, that the cir- cumstances of our lives are ordered for us by the unerring wisdom and tender love of our Heav- enly Father, whose All-seeing Eye grasps, not only the pain fulness of the present, but the peaceable fruit of righteousness which it will work out for us, we can say in all humility, "Thy will be done." We have the words always on our lips in public and private prayers; but 288 A LIFE OF SERVICE. do we make the entire surrender they imply, of all our hopes, plans, wishes and anticipations?" Many, worn and weary from the noise and the ceaseless whirl of city life, think that if they could have a quiet home among the green hills and swelling valleys of the country, they could serve their God more acceptably, and attain that rest their tired hearts crave as the highest earthly good. Others, living in a rural neigh- bourhood, find its peacefulness oppressive, its simple daily duty monotonous, and long for what they think a wider sphere, and more excit- ing round of activity. They cannot understand the weariness these entail, and forget the weight of care that accompanies extended fields of usefulness. But the quiet heart can make a world of its own, anywhere; and amid the rushing multitude can see its simple line of ordered service marked out by the Master's hand; and even in the fast changing scenes of the city, may realize the truth of the promise: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusted in Thee." CONTENTMENT. 289 Stagnation of thought, and indolent shrink- ing from change, are not necessary anywhere: and the narrowness of view which is considered part of the disadvantageous condition of country life, is not found solely there. Contact with other minds does arouse sleeping powers; and when we find so many good people adopting widely different doctrines, who seem equally in earnest in believing and enforcing them, we are led to study the deep principles that underlie them all; to have a wide charity for those who do not agree with us. and to catch loving glimpses of the Master's impress, upon hearts that seemed closed to the force of some of His commandments. But if this is denied us, we can learn from books the many-sidedness of truth; and find in the holy Fathers, the wise Doctors, and the learned divines of modern days, the same breadth of thought and wide charity for "all sorts and conditions of men." that city life ought to give. We can have more leisure to ponder the truths they teach: and reflection and meditation can make them part of our own mental treasure. 290 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. Jeremy Taylor says: "God hath appointed one remedy for all the evils in the world, and that is a contented spirit; for this alone can make a man pass through fire and not be scorched; through seas, and not be drowned; through hunger and nakedness, and want for nothing.'* A large proportion of the ills of this life are, or can be, swollen by the imagination to undue proportions; and you can keep the mind and heart in a perpetual fever of unrest, by discontentedly longing for that which the providence of God has placed out of your reach. There is always something beyond to prevent peace and contentment, which are not condi- tions of life, so much as states of mind, and which can be attained independently of outward circumstances. Wherever the Master has placed you, that is the post of duty; count over your blessings with grateful acknowledgment of His mercy; meekly accept the sorrow He may appoint to mingle with your daily bread; strive to overcome all obstacles in the path of your mental and spiritual advancement, and believe that God, who loveth best, knoweth best, and appoints the lot of each CONTENTMENT. 291 of His children according to the dictates of an All-Seeing Wisdom and Love. "Shall there be a mutiny among the flocks and herds, because their lord or their shepherd chooses their pastures, and suffers them not to wander into deserts and unknown way?' 1 We know the present evil, and fancy that there can be nothing in those far-off scenes as trying to our faith and patience as this: therefore discon- tent will murmur, and shrink from duty. and. gazing upon other heights, dream of peace and joy found among those who dwell there. But, like the mirage of the desert, it perpetually vanishes before the aching sight, and "always there is a black spot in our sunshine;*' it is. even as Carlyle said. — "the shadow of our- selves '* Many persons will be contented with the place in which their lot is cast; but cannot be reconciled to the people with whom they come in contact. They are too cold and formal; too free and social; too critical and captious; too ignorant, or too learned; or. worse than all, too bad tempered and quarrelsome. This is certain- ly disagreeable, but many of these traits are not 292 A LIFE OF SEEYICE. as bad as they seem. Coldness and formality may proceed from timidity and reserve, which the genial sunshine of a happy heart may thaw; and nice discrimination may draw the line w T hich should bound all intercourse with others. Captious criticism may be a bad habit, which those who would be wise, fancy makes them so; ignorance may be enlightened, and peevish- ness may forget to quarrel because of the unwillingness of the other party. Guard your own heart very carefully, and when you find how difficult it is for you always to speak the gentle word, and give the soft answer which "turneth away wrath," you will learn charity and com- passion for those who fail. After people have reached middle life, and have retained the fretfulness, petulance and fault-finding disposition which discipline should have rooted out in childhood, you can rarely expect much change. The grace of God in such hearts is a feeble plant in an unkindly soil; and prayer and the sacraments throw only passing gleams of light into the dark recesses of such a nature. CONTENTMENT. 293 If it is part of your life-long trial to be brought in close contact with such an evil blight, pray against it with all the fervor of which you are capable, because it is sadly conta- gious; and one of such spirit can not only mar the peace of a household, but infect other inmates with a like unholy discontent. Learn to be very quiet: never speak when the foul creature rears its head: do not think much of it if possible, or mention it. save in prayer. In Church Homes and Refuses, in infirma- ries and alms' houses, you will find many of these perverse and sinful dispositions. Their own friends were unable longer to endure the infliction of such an inmate in the family, so that any pretext was seized upon for putting the burden upon the public. In your care of the sick, and duties in charitable institutions, you will have need of all your Christian graces, that you may put up with the constant complaints, the querulous murmurs, the peevish exactions and dissatisfaction of these unhappy people. Remember that this is the very reason you find them there. Pleasant, useful people are welcome inanvhome: but the wretched grumb- 294 A LIFE OF SEEVICE. lers, the suspicious, jealous, captious disposi- tions cause too much unhappiness to be desired inmates anywhere. Be very patient, though firm, in your treatment of them ; and let them be a warning to you to guard against the first rising of discontent. Pray to God, like St. Augustine, "Give me what Thou commandest, and com- mand what Thou wait;" and accept evil as the good w T hich cometh from Him, with a happy heart and cheerful smile. This world is a w r ide one, and there is plenty of room in it for men and women of varying tastes and tempers, without clashing. Only learn to accept this truth, and have charity for other people's crotchets, and you can smooth out many causes of unhappiness. Perhaps the circumstances of your life may lead you into such quiet paths, that you may think you have no need of this strength and patience. You look from afar upon the din of the conflict which courageous souls are w 7 aging for the good and true, forgetting that each human heart is a battlefield for contending forces; and there is no place so remote but that therein may be trained soldiers for the holy war. CONTENTMENT. 295 The waste of towns inust be supplied by the country, and in unfrequented byways God is teaching His chosen ones fit lessons for future use. "There is no fountain so small but heaven may be imagined in its bosom f' and there is no life so obscure, but it may grow in graces that will bless the world. Let contentment be so thoroughly the habit of your mind, that you carry it with you every- where; and in strange places plan your life as if you were always to live there. Do not waste your time in idle dreaming or aimless sightsee- ing, bat pursue your fixed ends, observe your rules of obedience and service, and live each day knowing that it may be your last on earth. Rev. Sydney Smith gives an excellent recipe for contentment: "Take short views, hope for the best, and trust in God." Contrast your condition with that of those beneath you; all your desires may not be granted, but there are many miseries you have escaped; others may seem more blest, but you cannot know the hidden blight that may darken 296 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. the sunshine of their lives. Believe most fully with the poet, that "111 that He blesses is our good, And unblest good is ill; And all is right that seems most wrong, If it be His sweet will," and you will realize the joys of a contented mind. LETTEK XXXII. GEATITUDE. "The two belong together, service and thanks; not in the way of bargain, not by deliberate arrangement, but in the very nature of things to the life that serves, the gratitude that recognizes service belongs, as the warmth belongs to the sunlight, or the echo to the sound,'* Bishop Phillips Brooks. fN the first vigor of youth the freshness of the dawn is about us; i4 the common air is balm," and we enter each path of service with a joyful expectation of accomplishing great things. We may, perhaps, be able to give all of our time, strength and means to benefit others, and new ways of serving them will be constantly opening before us. "To him that hath shall be given;" in this case it may be in frequent opportunity of increased and extended usefulness; and, if time were not so fleeting, and strength so inadequate to the task, we fancy we might do much for the blessing of our race. 298 A LIFE OF SEEYICE. But soon comes the blank, bitter chill of ingratitude. The people we have tried to benefit, deceive and wound us. They return evil for the good we have done them; they repulse or reject our well meant efforts to serve them, and persist in the wrong doing from which we would fain keep them. This is the trial hour of motives. If God's glory has been our ruling thought, and true love for the souls He has made, and whose ransom cost the precious blood of the Lamb, the actuating principle of our service, while no self-seeking has marred the offering, we learn "Still to abide, 'mid failing hearts high-hearted," and are content to work on faithfully and patiently without thinking of the reward. There is much then, too, in the habit of seeking everywhere for occasions to benefit others. You can deny yourself, and forget your own personal likes and dislikes until they cease to assert themselves. And thus, though the glow of youthful enthusiasm will die away, and the brilliant tints of the morning "Fade into the light of coming day," you can, with ripened judgment and maturer GRATITUDE. 299 thought plan for the good of others, even though many of those plans, the instinct of ex- perience tells you will come to naught. "Your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;'* and a certain Rabbin, writing to Lord Bacon upon the text, "inferreth that young men are admitted nearer to God than old, because a vision is a clearer revelation than a dream." Be careful, then, that you do not throw the shadow of a chill evening over "the vision splendid," which glows about young hearts, working in the strength of excited hope; and the damp of oft-repeated disappoint- ment on "the gladness of the May." It will come very surely as the slow-paced years pass on, and the inevitable depression of standing, perhaps alone, among ruined schemes and defeated plans, steals over them. But do not rob them of one ray of the celestial light, or hasten its fading by the cold record of the accumulated experience of other lives. Gratitude, perhaps, seldom comes from those whom w r e most benefit; but, often in unexpected places, the chance flower springs up, whose sweet perfume will refresh the weary heart and 300 A LIFE OF SERVICE. waken "thoughts too deep for tears." A full table has been spread constantly for daily recipients; they may scorn the banquet, but its crumbs will nourish life, or bring strength to humble souls like that of the Syro-Phenician woman, who, with rare humility and beauty, answered our blessed Lord, "Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table." And His gracious approval rings through the ages: "O, woman, great is thy faith." The last notes of Evening Prayer had died away in the beautiful church of St. M -, and only a few lights gleamed amid the high arches wreathed with "the box and pine" for the Feast of the Nativity. The beauty of the scene attracted some passing students from a neighbouring college; and entering, they knelt, perhaps more from the instinct of habit, than reverence for the Sanctuary. In the shadow of the transept a few of the choir boys had gathered about their Sunday School teacher; and the soft voice of womanly tenderness was pleading with them, because that day they had GRATITUDE. 301 turned away from the Holy Supper of the Lord, and slighted the Sacred Feast. "And will ye also go away?" came persua- sively from her lips, reaching the ear of a manly student who was also * 'Forgetting God and duty." Perhaps the choristers were unmoved by the appeal, and the heart of a faithful teacher was wounded by their continued neglect; and she never knew of him who knelt within the sound of her voice, and was drawn by it out of the lurid mists of doubt to his early love and faith , consecrating them from that day to the fuller service of God. And so it is ever in the mysterious plan of life. We receive benefits from those whom we cannot serve; but w T e can accept them humbly and gratefully, and immediately return the kindness by doing something for other people, without expecting the reward of thanks. A tired traveller was waiting, during a long and unexpected interval between an arriving and departing train, in an over-heated and crowded station house, when a casual acquaint- ance of other years came up, and said, " You 302 A LIFE OF SEKVICE. look very weary; you must allow me to drive you through the park to our house for luncheon, as you cannot leave till night." When returning, rested and refreshed, some hours later, the traveller said: "What can I ever do for you, in return for this great kind- ness?*' The answer came, "Perhaps nothing; but you can pass it on to the next;" and the grateful remembrance has caused many lunch- eons to be prepared, and spread many couches for weary people. This is the meaning of our blessed Lord's words, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." Give to the poor with wise discrimination; think for them, plan for them, care for them always and everywhere, remem- bering that you do it — "for His holy sake Who died for thee," and that "When He was slaiu for crime of doing good, Canst thou expect return of gratitude?" When you cease to be expectant, often the reward does come, even in this life. To those who have sowed beside all waters, and patiently GRATITUDE, 303 and humbly toiled while waiting for the harvest the warmth "that belongs to the sunlight" refreshingly falls, and "at even-tide there shall be light." M r,v Wl LIBRARY OF CONGRESS iilijiiill'iiiiii;: 285 9 ill i I I Ml itr