party could be assembled the choristers of the Chapel Royal having to attend at S. James's on the next day, being the feast of the Epiphany, a most impressive and affectionate address was delivered after the first lesson by the Rector, who sought to impress on all present, but especially the youthful choristers, the solemn nature of the duty in which they were engaged, and the great privilege and responsibility of ministering in the LORD's temple; warning them against the danger of irreverence arising from their frequent familiarity with holy things, and expressing, in words which we regret we have not the means of laying before our readers, the sentiment so beautifully embodied in the following lines,—

Hope springs," exulting on triumphant wing,
That thus they all shall meet in future days;
There ever bask in uncreated rays,

No more to sigh or shed the bitter tear;
Together hymning their Creator's praise,
In such society, yet still more dear;

While ceaseless time moves round in an eternal sphere."

On Saturday, the last day of the Christmas festival, this happy meeting terminated with the appropriate service for the Epiphany, and all separated with contented feelings of gratitude for the opportunity of having participated in it, and regret that it had come to an end-all acknowledging that it had been the happiest Christmas keeping it had ever been their good fortune to witness, and ready to exclaim in looking back upon it

"Ye are dwelling with the faded flowers,

Ye are with the suns long set,

But oh! your memory, gentle hours,

Is a living vision yet!"

It is peculiarly gratifying to us to be able to state that the services celebrated were most strictly in accordance, in every respect, with the ritual of the Church; and we cannot neglect this opportunity of making a few remarks upon the social character of such festivities.

The natural tendency of time to obliterate ancient customs and observances, is too much promoted by the utilitarian spirit of the day; and they who would have no man enjoy, without being able to give a reason for the enjoyment which is in him, are robbing life of half its beauty, and some of its virtues. If the old festivals and hearty commemorations, in which our land was once so abundant, -and which obtained for her, many a long day since, the name of "merrie England,"-had no other recommendation than the community of enjoyment which they imply they would, on that account alone, be worthy of all promotion, as an,antidote to the cold

and selfish spirit which is tainting the life-blood, and freezing the pulses, of society. We love these anniversaries, for their own sakes, and for their uses: those seasons which, in their observance by our ancestors, kept alive, by periodical re-awakenings, that flame of charity which thus had scarcely time wholly to expire, during all the year. We love all which tends to call man from the solitary and chilling pursuit of his own separate and selfish views, into the warmth of a common sympathy, and within the bands of a common brotherhood. A modern author remarks:

"The revels of merry England are fast subsiding into silence, and her many customs wearing gradually away. The affectations and frivolities of society, as well as its more grave and solemn pursuits, the exigencies of fashion, and the tongue of the pedagogue, -are alike arrayed against them; and, one by one, they are retreating from the great assemblies where mankind most do congregate,' to hide themselves in remote solitudes and rural nooks."

We believe that he who shall aid in preserving the record of these vanishing observances, ere it be too late, will do good and acceptable service in his day and generation. Of that taste for hunting out the obsolete, which originates in the mere dry spirit of antiquarianism, or is pursued as a display of gladiatorial skill in the use of the intellectual weapons, we profess ourselves no admirers. But he who pursues in the track of a receding custom, what is valuable, either as an historical illustration, or because of its intrinsic beauty, moral or picturesque,—or infinitely more because of its religious influence, its deepening in the heart a sense of the infinite mercies of the great Creator, and the blessed Redeemer of the world, he is an antiquarian of the most exalted kind; and he who assists in restoring observances which had a direct tendency to propagate a feeling of brotherhood, a spirit of benevolence, and a deep-seated sense of religious reverence, is a higher benefactor still. Right joyous festivals there have been amongst us, which England will be none the merrier-and kindly ones which she will be none the better-for losing.

May we indulge the hope that the late celebration at Withyham may prove but the forerunner of a general restoration of the full ecclesiastical observance of the joyous Christmas festival.

"Who refuses," as has been forcibly asked by a contributor to this periodical,* "who refuses to hope for England, when such scenes as these may still be enjoyed in her happy villages? They tell that the spirit of true Christianity still prevails among us. They are, as it were, the sunbeams of hope-the harbingers and forerunners of that day which shall yet come, when all shall dwell in peace, in unity, and love. And with this thought in our mind we may, with good heart, joyously sing :

* Vide "A Country Festival," vol. i. p. 311.

"Rise, sons of merry England, from mountain and from plain;
Let each light up his spirit, let none unmoved remain ;
The morning is before you, and glorious is the sun,

Rise up and do your blessed work before the day be done."

In this sentiment most devoutly concurs one who had the privilege to be present at the happy festival, the leading features of which he has, in the foregoing brief memorial, endeavoured,-for the encouragement of some, and the imitation of others—faithfully, though but too imperfectly, to record.

E. P. H.

THE SISTERS OF MERCY AT DEVONPORT.

THE name "Sisters of Mercy" may seem strange to English ears; but the deeds of which it speaks are, thank GOD, not so. The Church has never lacked her sisters of mercy; she has ever had within her bosom those of gentle spirits, but noble enduring minds, who, in acts of love, and faith, and self-denial, have felt that they were indeed eating angels' food. There have not been wanting those who, unmarked by the world's praise, and heedless of its censures, have gone forth with joy to tend the helpless, cheer the comfortless, clothe the naked, giving the hungry food, and the thirsty drink-" a deed of grace." Ever have there been some tender ministering spirits,

who had charge sick persons to attend,

And comfort those in point of death which lay;
For man most needeth comfort in the end,
When sin, and hell, and death, do most dismay
The feeble soul departing hence away.
All is but lost that, living, we bestow,
If not well ended at our dying day:

Oh man, have mind of that last bitter throw,
For as the tree does fall, so lies it ever low.*

Yes! there have been many who have threaded their way through the dark and dismal alleys, and black spots of our large towns; or have gone from cot to cot in country villages, making ignorance and sorrow flee before them, and bringing back those that had gone astray. There is scarcely a parish Priest who has not reason to bless GOD for some such assistance as this. All thanks and honour be to them; for verily they have their reward.

But, though much has thus been done, there has been for some time a growing feeling arising in the minds of good and thoughtful men, that something more than individual exertions is re* Spenser's Faerie Queen.

quired to cope with the mass of irreligion, heathenism, and infidelity, that abounds in nominally Christian England. Evils great and fearful have been gaining strength around us. Baptized children have run wild, without schools, or teachers, or friends, and have grown up in ignorance of a GOD, a heaven, or a hell. The adults have been left to die in ignorance and ruth, having led a life of sin and misery here, and having no hope of rest and peace beyond the grave. As these things were contemplated fact by fact, and dwelt upon until fully realised, men asked, "What shall be done to regain the lost?"* Who is sufficient for these things? It was some time before men could be brought to believe that such was really the condition of England, and that no great measure had been adopted for its amelioration. And when it was suggested by us some years ago that we must alter our mode of operation, and oppose aggregated evils by concentrated and combined efforts, some were shocked, others were fearful, and few approved. But truth, though slow be its progress, will at length make its way. It has been so in this case. First one, and then another, felt convinced that working as individuals, however earnest, faithful, and laborious, would not suffice. The principle of association was at length acknowledged as the only one that could be tried with any chance of success. Opportunities, however, did not arise for putting this principle upon trial until the last year. Then, it will be remembered, the Bishop of Exeter sent forth a stirring appeal in behalf of a neglected part of his diocese, and also a plan for the formation of several new districts. That appeal was not made in vain. The words of the aged and venerable Prelate were like bread cast upon the waters, to be seen many days hence. Pecuniary contributions, on a liberal scale, were at once sent in. But more than this. There was one who read the appeal, and who, when the cry was raised," Come over and help us," made a noble resolve, through God's blessing, to devote her property and herself to the service of GOD, in that peculiar part of His vineyard. A young woman was she, of weak and feeble frame, but of an enlarged heart, that stirred within her as she read of thousands dying for lack of spiritual food. At the very moment of setting out on a journey of travel, her movements were arrested. She was led to leave the sphere of life which she had heretofore adorned; to cease to expend upon herself the treasures which GOD had given her, and instead thereof to purchase for herself treasures that wax not old, eternal in the heavens. She communicated her intentions to her aged father, who seconded her noble design, and himself subsequently aided in carrying it out, by purchasing a place of worship for one of the districts.

* See Tract published by J. Masters.

She offered herself to one of the Clergy, who gladly received her. And here, in passing, let us pay a well-merited tribute of thanks to the Clergy of these new districts. They need no commendation, yet are they worthy of all praise. They have done a great work, and done it well; being instant in season and out of season, suffering reproach and obloquy, and yet persevering unceasingly in their labour of faith and love. Theirs has been no niggardly service, grudgingly rendered. We speak from inquiries made on the spot, and testify that we have seen. riously have they preached the unsearchable riches of CHRIST, where CHRIST's name had scarcely been heard, and unfurled the standard of the Church's doctrines, where such were unknown before. They have proved themselves servants of the LORD, men of GOD, that need not be ashamed of their work. May He reward and bless them, and give them strength and health for still greater labours!

Labo

But to return to our narrative. This lady went to Devonport, where she was gladly received by the minister of S. James's district. As soon as she came, she began her mission by going into the streets and alleys, and gathering together those who were willing to accept her offer, for the purposes of instruction. Her example of devotedness was followed by others; and a little community has now been formed, under the visitatorial control of the Bishop. What has been effected through their instrumentality has thus been detailed in the Times by an eye witness:

"Miss Sellon's first step, on fixing herself in Devonport, was to collect a children's school. She did it in the straightforward way which characterizes all her proceedings. She went into the lanes, and asked the children whom she met whether they would like to learn to read. If they said yes, she followed them to their parents, and asked their approval. She then opened her room, and set to work. In this way she established an infant and two industrial schools, containing together about three hundred children. She had also projected an industrial school employed in the miserable occupation of working for slop-shops; she hoped, by management and instruction, to enable them to earn their present livelihood with rather less than their present overwhelming labour; to amuse and improve their minds by oral instruction during their work, and to bring them within the reach of good influences; and, as she is apt to succeed in what she undertakes, she would by this time probably have advanced somewhat towards her purpose, if she had not been interrupted by the present accusations. Two of her schools I saw-I am not myself a judge of such matters, but a lady, not unused to school children, was exceedingly struck with the good behaviour and knowledge which had been infused into them during so few months. She also supports and educates under her own roof a certain number of orphan children collected from the neighbourhood.