very ornaments and hangings, mouldered and faded it is true, but still retaining sufficient of their ancient grandeur to show mid the dust and mildew the gold and silver thread, and the embroidery of purple, crimson, and blue, the three colours mentioned in the old parchment and found in the order described, which plainly denoted they once had decorated that 'holy and beautiful house.' Such work, such ornaments, so costly, so antique, set aside all doubts as to where the temple was; and now," continued the writer, "I leave the description in your hands, confident of my success and of your acquiescence." Here was a dilemma, some looked puzzled, some sneeringly asked where the walls were on which this grandeur had hung, while others received this letter, as some had done the former, with "True, true, here is the temple." Another letter was opened, and here was a description of "pillars of chiselled marble and steps of polished granite and rafters of the choicest wood, overlaid with gold, pure refined gold," and this produced the like effect on those assembled; some laughed, others most condescendingly pitied the "deluded creatures who could believe that to be the temple;" while others "wondered there could exist a doubt, as this and none other certainly must be it." The last letter was read, and here the skill and patience of the antiquarian had been expended in searching into little things, so minutely correct was all he had found that no dissenting voice denied the cry which this letter raised; "Wonderful! how strange!" while many added, “Where's the good of the fellow wasting his time and labour on such little things?" and a few, on the other hand, replied, "This is the temple, it is in these small matters which one would so easily overlook, that truth lies, here certainly is no deception; who would think of copying such little things? this is the original temple." The letters were all folded, the chairman was silent, none had pleased him individually; while around the table one could easily perceive four little groups forming, their power no longer consisted in unity, it was one society no more; each little society, while strenuously upholding their party, did not forget to speak railingly of those without their circle, and therefore not right. Here in this once united society, discord had sprung up; each man chose his own temple, and yet denied his brother the right to choose his. This state of things did not pass the observation of the chairman, who in silence and sorrow noted it all. At length, having drawn their attention to him, he addressed them in these words; "Friends, I perceive there is a difference of opinion among you; you fancy you have found the lost temple, because the parts which you admire have been found, and yet you cannot all be right. If one, a stranger, were brought in here, and this old parchment and these letters were laid before him, what think you would be his verdict? would it be in favour of any one? I can take upon myself to answer, no; and yet that the foundation, &c., found by one is the very foundation described by the writer of this parchment, I think no man can truly and honestly deny; as also with the others, it is beyond a doubt the richly painted windows and gorgeous hangings of the temple which another has found; we dare not, my friends, honestly we cannot refuse either; all bear on their foreheads the stamp of truth. All are right: then I can come to but one conclusion, that time and other circumstances have been busy in their vocation of scattering to the four winds of heaven what they could not destroy. Give me any other reason which will account for the fact that the parts are not united in one as they once were? Alas! alas!" continued the old man, sorrowfully, "how little heed did you take to my warning when some time ago I told you not to be surprised if you should find this temple scattered in ruins, dispersed ; I warned you against setting your thoughts and hopes on any part, and if you had listened to my voice how differently would you have acted." There was a pause, none answered. "Is it not plainly our duty," proceeded the chairman, "to receive all these parts and having united these beautiful fragments, to crown the whole with the title belonging to none separately, of the temple, and divide the wreath of honour among the restorers. Let us gather all together, and having placed them each in their place, not from, but in connexion with each other, rejoice with pure hearts together, that we have found what was lost, and restored in one spirit and one mind this ancient building." There was a long pause followed the chairman's remarks, but he read in the countenances of those around him dissatisfaction; a few appeared to feel the truth of what he had said, but for some reason known only to themselves the conviction was smothered, and they with the others continued their silence, which tolled sorrowfully a negative knell on the good old man's heart. He used his utmost endeavours to convince them of the folly and wrongfulness of splitting and dividing the temple, but in vain was the eloquence of that old man used, the tear of persuasion fell on no sympathizing heart, and each one departed from that once united company, listening to pride and self-will, loudly clamouring for the mastery in their hearts; the gentle tones of that warning voice, and the sad tears of those aged eyes, melted away from their memory as the evening mist, and left behind the stillness and darkness of night, in which each man formed, according to his heart's desire, a temple for himself and his posterity, and how the generations then unborn but long since mouldered into dust, loved those divided and in a degree unholy temples which their forefathers built, is too plainly shown by the fact that the one true temple, perfect in its unity, still remains unknown, unsought, and, alas! uncared for. They say a voice still murmurs on, as these parts even are still being split and subdivided, until so much of man's work and so little of the ancient temple remains, as to cause one nearly to deplore the total extinction of what was once so rudely and madly left ungathered; they say that voice has not been whispering in vain, that brighter days are beginning to dawn, when that scattered temple will be gathered and made one; and that the pride and conceit which once refused to build it up, will be laid low in mourning and weeping in the dust of its once arrogant greatness. They say a "Restorer of the breach" is coming, that He waits but till the children of this generation shall seek Him, and then will He suddenly come to His temple, and in its restored form "the glory of the latter temple will be greater than the glory of the former." They say the cry is becoming louder and louder, Why tarry the wheels of His chariot?" If this be the case, if amid the discontent and murmurings of these little divided societies a shout is being raised from anxious hearts, if the ear is straining amid the surrounding din, to catch the first distant rumbling of His chariot wheels, if the eye is piercing the dark road lying before, and sees but the far-off glimmer of an approaching glorious pageant, how much cause have those to rejoice who long and wait for the restoration of the temple. LIZZIE W. 66 THE STRIFE OF SAINTS. "And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from another."-Acts xv. 39. THEY parted-words of bitterness, And sharp contention fell, From frail, though saintly lips, and steeped In grief their last farewell. They parted-ne'er again to meet, "In House of GOD" below, Where they had "walked as friends," and shared, Like brothers, weal or woe. And fearful hearts, that listening stood, As erst Apostles strove, Wept blindly o'er the saddening strife, But sweet from bitter, joy from grief, For singly each through distant lands, One hastened to his island home, His father's fields the stranger tilled, The other through the main-land sped, Or where the twin seas break around From shore to shore the Cross he bore, Until he stood, with dauntless heart, But sure some messenger of love, To greet his ancient friend. Some word of peace-and who so meet, Like Pelian spear, as he whose guilt, Had dealt the breaching wound? What though no record testify O holy one of Cyprus ! shares Lessons of faith for every age- КАРРА. MARY MARTIN. THE sun had risen, and the little birds were warbling forth their songs to the great Creator of all; some on the wing, busy in catching the small insects, while others, perched on the trees, (which were now more beautiful than ever from the varied autumnal tints,) sweetly sung their praises. It was with a joyful *Acts iv. 37. + Colossians iv. 10; 2 Timothy iv. 11. 66 and happy feeling that Mary Martin rose from her bed, and dressed herself with great care, for it was the day on which she was to take on herself her baptismal vows, on which she was to be prayed over and blessed by the bishop. O happy thought! the priest of the parish had taken great pains with his little flock to make them feel the privileges that they enjoyed in being members of the one Catholic and Apostolic Church; and Mary, as she went to join the other children who were going to partake of the same blessing, felt such a feeling of calm, tranquil pleasure, that the walk to the parsonage seemed much shorter than usual, and she found herself before the old church tower long before she expected. Almost all the children were ready to walk to the church, where the beautiful liturgy of our Holy Mother" was said by the good rector. When the service was ended they all quitted the sanctuary, and were arranged so as to walk two and two, the girls first, and the boys following. It was about a mile from D- to the cathedral town of Ewhere the confirmation was to take place; and Mary had never been away from her own little parish church. As they entered the western door, the organ was pealing through the sacred edifice, now in soft and mellow strains, now in louder and more swelling tones. Mary felt as if her legs would hardly support her weight, and the two long rows of high Gothic pillars made her feel smaller than she had ever done before; she felt she hardly knew what, but that she could creep into some unknown little corner and cry. The evening following her confirmation Mary Martin was busy in her garden, when she heard the clergyman's wife inquiring for her. She went into the house, and there she found Mrs. Howard talking to her mother. * * * "Well, Mary," said she kindly, "I have been telling your mother how thankful you should be that you are now able to partake of the holy Eucharist, or as Bishop Ken calls it, the Feast of Love." "I am sure, madam," replied Mary, "I shall always look on yesterday as one of the happiest days of my life; I only wish it could come over again." 66 'No, Mary," said the pastor, entering at that instant, "that is not necessary; for, as Robert Nelson says, 'This solemn renewal of our baptismal vow is sufficient by being once performed, and for further supplies of grace we have hereby a title to receive the Holy Communion.' ووو "I am sure, madam," said Mary's mother, turning to Mrs. Howard, "I am extremely obliged to you and the parson for all the pains you have taken with my Mary. Poor child! she would never have been baptized at all had it not been for you; for I |