and fifty-nine coins. This month of October, of which I give the details below, was a most generous time. Even if friends came, they were really partakers of the Mission and its work. When I look over the conspectus of December, 1867, which is before me, I see that the services increased to twenty-four: every other point diminished; but I notice a homely matter we have also to contend with. First Sunday in Advent: very wet. Second Sunday: very wet, and snow. Third Sunday very wet. Saturday, 21st: very wet. Fourth Sunday: wet. Christmas Day: wet. 26th: very foggy. 28th: wet. If with this weather 1492 persons came to the worship of God, what shall we say? The words of one of our carols, (S. P. C. K. collection,) which the choir sung with me on Christmas Eve in every street of St. Luke's, recur to mind: The shepherds at these tidings rejoiced much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding in tempest, storm, and wind; The list of Lent of this year is before me also, from Ash-Wednesday to Easter Day-a list of thirty-two services, with 2735 meeting to pray. Perhaps if we cannot make communion a fixed desire among such people as we have, the next cheering thing is to find a willingness to be humble, and exclaim, 'Have mercy on me, O God, after Thy great goodness; according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences. We have never forgotten that 'Fast is the spirit's feast, and Lent the soul's high tide.' The Confirmation candidates were prepared during this season, and fourteen men and nineteen women were presented on April 29, at Poplar: two men and three women more on July 27, at West Hackney. Every man and woman who frequents the service is confirmed. The Easter statement of accounts acknowledges £27 9s. 14d. as the expenses of the Mission for the year, of which £7 3s. 1d. goes for books. If any reader of this frugal economy would help to bind these books, we could go on with our present store. The Fund in the meanwhile has pressed on the conveyance of the site for St. Luke's schools, and therefore that large part of our scheme must now be looked to. Now I reach the October which has just passed. To the account, which I copy from the Guardian newspaper of October 28, have little to add. The Baptisms in the whole parish of Trinity, which in 1841 to 1848 were fifty each year, and then to 1855 were seventy-nine, have increased, through two hundred and three hundred, till this year they will reach four hundred and fifty. About half of these are from the district of St. Luke's. So the multitude is very large. Fear not this,' said an earnest missionary spirit in the north of England; 'fear not this; it is there Christ has Ilis triumphs!" The account of the Guardian is as follows: "The third anniversary of St. Luke's Mission, Burdett Road, Stepney, was celebrated by numerous services and much liberality this year. On Friday, October 16th, fasting and prayer was recommended on behalf of the Mission and its coming festival, and the evening service at half-past seven was penitential. The Litany and a hymn ("When gathering clouds," tune Stella) preceded a Lesson, St. Mark, xiv. 26 to end, and Psalm li.; then the "Prayer for Prosperity of Missions" was used as a Collect before the sermon, preached by the Rev. W. Wallace, in charge of the Mission"Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation; the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak." "Let my life be hid with Thee," to Mozart's Kyrie, was sung during the Offertory, and the Benediction was given at the close. The prayer, which is taken from The Manual of Intercessory Prayer, was printed, along with St. Luke's Hymn, "O Jesu, O Redeemer, Physician of the soul," and given to every person as they left this and the other services. The whole service was easily understood and followed. On the Eve, Saturday, part of the choir of the neighbouring church, St. Paul's, Bow Common, assisted, and the Rev. A. B. Cotton preached-"He giveth medicine to heal their sickness." All the subjects of the sermons of the festival course were appropriate, and all delivered extempore. The processional tune, for "The Son of God goes forth" was found to go well to St. Luke's Hymn. On Sunday, St. Luke's Day, as no communions are publicly administered in the Mission, early celebration at St. Paul's, and mid-day at Trinity, the mother church, were assisted by the Rev. W. Wallace and the Rev. P. J. Richardson, the second curate of the Mission. The usual services in St. Paul's school at eleven and seven had the Rev. W. Wallace preacher-"Only Luke is with me," and the Rev. P. J. Richardson preacher "Luke the beloved physician,"-"St. Luke was a loving, unassuming, generous, joyous man." The congregation of the evening was one of the largest attending within a long period. On Monday the anniversary service was held at halfpast seven, to which friends came, among the rest Mr. J. A. Shaw Stewart, visitor of the district for the Bishop of London's Fund. The Offertory was £16 15s. 9ąd., in ninety-three coins, from one hundred and eighteen persons, The statement of the Mission was made; three points are worthy of mention: 'Since October 18, 1865, to October 18, 1868, in three years, 1,060 persons had been baptized in Trinity Church. In the same time £1,210 had been collected, independently of all grants, towards St. Luke's permanent church. Of £182 ordinary Offertories in the Mission, £101 had been applied to the building fund; all expenses -hymn-books and psalters, (these are on every seat,) coals, gas, wages, printing, music-being defrayed from the remainder, most of the work done being voluntary. And the announcement was made that the funds were sufficient to justify the building of the nave; the chancel must be left. This statement, repeated by the Rev. F. Simcox Lea in his sermon, "The mission of the Seventy.-Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house," was received with the liveliest satisfaction. "We march to victory," to Cobb's tune, was sung. The total Offertories in the Mission services amounted to £21 7s. 94d., in four hundred and sixty-eight coins, from seven hundred and seventy persons, and of this three hundred and fifty-five copper coins, making £1 Os. 94d. The architect, Mr. A. Blomfield, considers it of much importance to have the foundations of the chancel put in along with those of the nave. About £250 is required for this. Some donations towards the fittings, the font, gas standards, &c., have been promised. It is interesting to state that no less than five Missions under the Bishop's Fund in East London have called themselves by the name of St. Luke-in Bethnal Green, Stepney, Bromley, Millwall, and Deptford.' In addition to this account I may say that the Octave services were satisfactory, that our choir prepared an anthem for these,- Thine, O Lord, is the greatness,'-and that the Rev. G. Barnes, who, along with my brother, preached on October 25, is the missionary clergyman of St. Luke's, Bethnal Green. The Bromley St. Luke's has as yet only sites. The foundation-stone of St. Luke's, Millwall, was laid on October 16, at which I was able to be present; and, as if to prove that there is One body and One spirit, two of my constant helpers were young men in the choir of the Rev. J. Malcolmson, before he went to the Mission described in this month's 'Packet,' St. Luke's at Deptford. 'I should like you,' said one of them as we returned from the October meeting, for he is on our building committee, 'I should like you to have Mr, Malcolmson over to preach.' In Advent he consents to come. With this harmony and union in my mind, how can I better close this account of our St. Luke's than with prayer:-'() Lord Jesu Christ, who didst charge Thine Apostles that they should preach the Gospel to every nation: make us to show our gratitude for Thy benefits by earnestness in fulfilling Thy command. Prosper all missions, both at home and abroad, with an increase of sanctity, that they may win many to the acknowledgment of Thy truth, especially the Mission of St. Luke in Stepney, and give them all things needful for their work; making them to be centres of spiritual life, to the quickening of many souls, and the glory of Thy holy name, Who art our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.' 28, Cottage Grove, Bow Road. E. Yours truly, WILLIAM WALLACE. AN APPEAL FOR THE DESTITUTE AND SUFFERING. Ar this time of year many benevolent persons are anxious to find spheres where they can most profitably dispense their charity. May I occupy one of your pages to make known to them a field in which great poverty and wretchedness abound, and where there are no rich or well-to-do people to alleviate it? In the newly-formed parishes of St. Augustine and St. Columba, Haggerston, there are thousands of poor artizans, who for the most part have migrated from country parishes in search of work. Destitution and sickness have long prevailed among them to an appalling extent, and until recently no hand has been stretched forth to succour them, no ministrations of love and mercy have cheered their wretched homes, lightened their oppressive burdens, or soothed and succoured them in the hours of sickness and death. But now the zeal and devotion of the clergy of these two parishes, and 'the selfsacrificing labours of the Sisters of St. Saviour's Priory, (from East Grinstead,) have penetrated into every court and alley, and have brought to light an amount of destitution and misery which is both heart-sickening and overwhelming, because they can do so little to alleviate them. Will any of your readers help them in their arduous labours by gifts of money, clothes, linen, wine, or grocery, or prints and books for the orphanage and library? Any of these will be most acceptable, and gratefully received. I shall be happy to take charge of and to dispense in the best way any gifts which are sent to me at Stoke Newington Green. London; or they may be sent THE MOTHER SUPERIOR, to ST. SAVIOUR'S PRIORY, 334, KINGSLAND ROAD. Yours obliged, R. BRETT. HINTS ON READING. Ir is always a good sign to see the multiplication of such books as Thomas à Kempis's Imitation, and no less than four editions have come into our hands, from the hands of Messrs. Rivington and from Frome, ranging through different scales of price and size, so as to be within the reach of all classes. We rather wonder at the republication of the Rev. C. T. Collins Trelawny's Perranzabuloe. (Rivington.) The discovery of the ancient church buried in the sand was certainly curious, but Mr. Trelawny's conclusions therefrom are a large superstructure on as mall foundation, and though there is no doubt that the Church existed among the ancient Britons, this is a very weak argument for the independence of our English Church; for our own ancestors, it cannot be denied, were converted by the mission of Gregory the Great. Our freedom really rests on the original constitution of the primitive Church. Mrs. Valentine has given us in Land Battles (Warne) a very nice companion to her Sea Fights. It is a very spirited history of English battles from Hastings to Inkerman, with portraits of all the generals; and so English are we, that Harold, and not William, reigns at the head of the page. One Year, or the History of Three Homes, by F. M. P., (Warne,) is as charming a book as we have ever chanced to meet with. The scene lies first in France and then in England, and the contrast is most brilliantly drawn. Sometimes we are in a curious old lodging-house at Dieppe, full of kindly noise and chatter; sometimes in a cool green Devonshire sea-side village, in a great silence of reserve. The whole is full of thoughtful teaching, conveyed not directly but by inference, and the characters are all clearly cut, and so individual, that we feel as if each were a near friend or acquaintance. The busy girl with her perpetual irons in the fire;' the awkward girl; the shy clever one, who thinks exclusiveness loyalty; and the shuffling younger sister-all are as admirable portraits as are the bright little shrew of a French heroine, her vagabond artist father, or the fat concierge and his wife. Few stories better repay reading. Miss Thackeray's charming modern parody of old fairy tales in Five Old Friends and a Young Prince is a most engaging volume, which we hope will not soon cease to be in request. For those who do not care to read Madame de Pressense's very interesting story of Deur Ans au Lycée in the original, there is a very prettily got up translation put forth by Mr. Warne, under the title of Two Years of School Life. And the Home Annual, which likewise proceeds from Mr. Warne, is as full as a shillingsworth can be of bright, well told, and graceful stories for the young, and-rare merit-its mirth is free from all vulgarity; it brings also a goodly collection of games and puzzles, sufficient to occupy more than one evening in guesses and speculations. Our old friend, the Curate's Budget, has just put out an excellent little story called Polly's First Earnings; and Church Ballads continue with unequal merit, but are likely to win a good many ears. We must also notice a pretty little thoughtful brochure, costing only twopence, a tale called Two Christmas Days, by Volo non Valeo, (a soubriquet that correspondents of The Monthly Paper will remember,) and published by W. T. Barnes, Budleigh Salterton. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. No MS. can be returned unless the Author's name and address be written on it, and stamps be sent with it. Contributions must often be delayed for want of space, but their writers may be assured that when room can be found they shall appear. H. E. H. wishes to know if the chapters on Heraldry, or Cathedral Sketches, which appeared in the early numbers of The Monthly Packet, are published separately; if so, the price. -Cathedral Sketches have not been re-published. Lectures on Heraldry, by Ellen Millington, have been. Declined with thanks-The Water-Lily. F. would be very glad to be informed in The Monthly Packet as to whom allusion is made by Theodora, in Heart's-ease, when she says, 'I shall, like my name-sake, wash all day, and ride on the great dog at night.'- -To Theodora Cowper, the object of the poet Cowper's early attachment. When asked by her father how she would live if she married William Cowper, this was her answer. Kate asks on which mountain was CHRIST's first sermon preached?' Does she mean The Mount of the Beatitudes, which lies to the north-west of the Lake of Tiberias? J. C. asks for a small treatise on Light and Shade, chiefly for shading illuminations. M. S. wishes to know where these lines occur: Oh, think that while you're weeping here, ......... without a tear His Saviour's praise is singing.' M. G. would be much obliged if the Editor of The Monthly Packet, or any of his Correspondents, would give her any information about the Seal of David. It is mentioned in The Olive Leaf, by the Rev. W. W. Malet, and the design of it is given there; but M. G. much wishes for some account of its history, &c. Helen ought to write to Queen's College, Harley Street, for a full prospectus. There is no Training School connected with that Institution; and board and lodging for college pupils are not included in the terms. It would save trouble if some of our Correspondents would make their different applications at the Institutions themselves. E. D. R. Address to Sister Monica, St. Michael's Sisterhood of the Poor, Luke Street, Paul Street, Finsbury, E. C., who acknowledges the further receipt of 5s. in stamps. L. B. is thanked for 5s. in stamps for this Sisterhood; L., for 5s. for The Parochial Mission Women Association. St. Andrew's Waterside Mission, Gravesend.-The following sums have been received with grateful thanks, together with several parcels of books : s. d. 5 0 5 0 10 0 10 O 10 O 10 0 5 0 2 0 5 0 6 9 5 0 10 6 £4 4 3 Contributors should send their name and address, not for publication, but to enable the Treasurer to send them news from time to time of the Mission they have generously helped. E. A. Freeman desires to thank Mrs. A. L. E., Shropshire, for the Parcel sent to The Home for Invalid Children, 70, Montpelier Road, Brighton. The following donations for the Convalescent Home at Scarborough for Poor Gentlewomen are acknowledged by Miss Nevile :-E. C. P., 5s.; G. C., 5s.; Anon., 1s. 8d. St. Luke's Mission, Burdett Road, Stepney.-The Rev. William Wallace gratefully acknowledges the following donations :-L. H., 10s.; R. M., (annually) £5; C. F., £2 for the Church, £2 for the Poor; L. E. S., £3 12s. for the Mission; A. C., 2s. 6d. ; F. M. L., a Parcel. Donations promised: towards a Font-towards a Window. Post-office Orders may be made payable at the Office, Bow Road, E. John and Charles Mozley, Printers, Derby. |