the delivery of interesting lectures, some with dissolving views. It was further stated, that as circumstances. suggested, other measures of usefulness would be adopted. A resolution expressive of the feeling of the meeting was submitted by Dr. Snitch. Mr. Peto, in acknowledging a vote of thanks, said, that he had never yet delivered a lecture, but being at present released from parliamentary duties, he was tempted to do so, and his first should be given in that hall, to the people of St. Giles's.

SUPPRESSING

ANOTHER MOVEMENT FOR THE SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS ON THE LORD'S DAY.

THE beneficial effects of the late Act of Parliament for the closing of public-houses during part of the Lord's Day are abundantly manifest, and are everywhere acknowledged. Why should not these public benefits be extended by an entire closing of public-houses on the Lord's Day? It is a burlesque upon legislation to prohibit the sale of food and raiment, and license the opening of dens of impurity and demoralization. It is, therefore, with good reason that Temperance Associations and religious people have commenced a movement to obtain from the legislature an act for the closing of publichouses, gin palaces, &c., and all such places, during the entire Sabbath. We hail their efforts, we heartily wish them success, and hope ere long the religious public will combine to induce the legislature to adopt stringent measures to put down Sunday trading of every description. Our temperance friends have issued copies of petitions to be sent to Parliament, and sent out also a tract containing special reasons why the public should sign them. We have much pleasure in transferring to our pages a copy of each, and hope our friends will take action in this important matter. WHY SHOULD I SIGN YOUR PETITION.

This is a very proper question to propose-for it is not exercising a

trifling privilege, or incurring a trifling responsibility, to sign any petition addressed to the Parliament of the land. Sorry should we be if one person were persuaded to sign our petition without having good and sufficient reasons for such an act. Among these reasons, the following we think not only justify, but claim, the signatures of all who love their country, to the petitions now in circulation, for a law to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors during the whole of Sunday.

1. Because, by common consent, and the law of the land, Sunday is set apart for public religious services, and as a period of cessation from business pursuits. But the opening of houses for the sale of strong drink on that day, both deprives the inmates of the benefits of this wholesome arrangement, and acts upon many minds as a strong temptation, by yielding to which they are prepared for other violations of duty, still more demoralizing and debasing.

2. Because other shops, vending innocent and useful articles, are, as a rule, compelled by statute law to close on Sunday; and it is but reasonable to urge that the shops which deal in dangerous articles should not be allowed a privilege from which others are debarred.

3. Because a release from their regular occupations on Sunday exposes large masses of the population, especially the young, to many seductive and baneful influences from drinking houses; and these never take effect without depriving their victims of the valuable advantages, educational and religious, which are most liberally provided on that day.

4. Because careful observation has demonstrated the appalling extent to which the Sunday traffic in strong drink ensnares immense numbers of the community.

In Manchester, with a population of 317,000, no fewer than 214,818 Sunday visits to 1,437 drinking shops were counted, of which 120,122 were by men, 171,111 by women, and 23,585 by children. But 619 such places were not watched, and at a similar ratio for these, the aggregate number of visits each Sunday would be 307,354, or nearly an average of one visit per person of the inhabitants of that city. Other towns are similarly situated. The evil therefore is gigantic, and

almost too painful to ponder, when we consider the social evils and criminal excesses which this practice must inevitably produce.

5. Because the legislature has already, in response to appeals from the people, limited the sale of intoxicating liquors on the Sunday. On the 14th of August, 1848, a law was passed closing all liquor shops up to noon on Sunday. In the session of 1854, as many as 2,182 petitions, with 415,027 signatures, were presented to the House of Commons for a whole Sunday Bill, an instalment of which was obtained, closing public houses and beer shops from half-past two to six, and from ten to twelve, p.m. Hence the principle of Sunday prohibition has been twice acted upon in reference to England, and still more comprehensively with regard to Scotland, where a whole day closing bill came into operation in May, 1854. But why confine the benefits of such a law to one kingdom out of three, when the evil it is designed to correct is common to them all?

6. Because conclusive evidence has been afforded of the excellent working of these various measures. Sunday tippling has been diminished, and its consequent vices and disorders have correspondingly decreased. The late Lord Provost of Edinburgh, in two elaborate letters to the Times, showed that the whole-day law had acted admirably in that city. Similar facts and statistics have been published in relation to the other leading towns of Scotland. The English Bill of 1854, has effected a proportionate share of good. But two examples out of many suffice:

G. à Beckett, Esq., the sitting Magistrate at Southwark Police Office, in a letter published January 9th, remarks-"Previous to its coming into operation, the business at this court was not only considerably greater on Monday than any other day in the week, but it consisted chiefly of cases of drunkenness, and of assaults more or less violent that had been committed under its influence. (The return since the law came in force is then given, shewing 37 cases of Sunday drunkenness in 19 weeks, or a fraction less than two cases on an average for each Sunday. The worthy Magistrate continues)-It has been alleged on high judicial authority, that nine-tenths of the crime of the country is caused by drunkenness, and inquiry, would, I think, show

that a vast proportion of the poverty of the country has the same origin. Juvenile delinquency, which forms a source of the constant supply of adult criminals, is in many cases to be traced to the neglect of drunken parents; and therefore there is little doubt that the best means for the diminution of crime and poverty, and perhaps all disease, are comprised in the prohibition of drunkenness." Again

REV. J. CLAY, the chaplain of the Preston House of Correction, states that he has examined the cases of committals to the prison of males, for drunkenness and for offences caused by drunkenness during four months before, and four months after, the passing of the act. The following are the particulars :

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

Four months before the passing of the bill 65 Four months after ditto 33

COMMITTED SUMMARILY.

Four months before the passing of the bill 106 Four months after ditto 67

COMMITTED SUMMARILY ON MONDAYS.

Four months before the passing of the bill 35 Four months after ditto 17 The Rev. Gentleman remarks-"A decrease of more than 31 per cent. on the whole, and of more than 50 per cent. on the Monday committals, is a pretty strong proof of the beneficial working of the bill."

7. Because numerous vendors of intoxicating drinks are themselves in favour of a Sunday closing law. Many would regard the measure as a boon to themselves and their dependents, and many more would gladly acquiesce in a law of this description, impartial in its provisions and administration. At least a thousand of these signed the petitions to Parliament in 1854 for such a law; and before the Committee of the House of Commons on Licensing, several publicans gave evidence in favour of this measure, one of whom, asserted that it "would be one of the greatest boons that could be given to the working poor." A declaration has also been made public from forty-seven licensed victuallers and retail brewers of West Bromwich, who have voluntarily agreed to close on the whole of Sunday, and as one reason for their conduct they state-"We believe that we shall be promoting the general good of the community; that temptation will be taken out of the way of the Sabbath breaker; that the public morals will be improved; and that we shall be setting a good example to others who are now similarly engaged with ourselves on the Sabbath day."

It is pleasing to find some of those who are pecuniarily interested in the traffic, thus pleading for its suppression

during Sunday. But the majority are otherwise minded: hence the necessity of legislative interference for the public protection. But as no act of legislation will be obtained by merely desiring it, or because of its intrinsic desirability, it is incumbent on all persons favourable to the abolition of the Sunday traffic in strong drinks, to unite in a national agitation for securing, in the present Session of Parliament, the passing of such a law.

FORM OF PETITION.

Recommended by the Central Committee, 66, Bishopsgate-street Within, London to be adopted verbatim, or altered as desired.

Respectfully sheweth,

That your Petitioners most cordially approve of the two Acts passed by yourt House; the one

in the Session of 1848, closing Public Houses and Beershops up to 1 o'clock, p.m. on Sunday, and the latter in the Session of 1854, closing such places on the same day, from half-past 2 to 6, and from 10 to 12 p.m.

That both these Acts your Petitioners observe with pleasure have decidedly tended to promote public order and decorum; while the testimony of judicial and prison authorities, and of town missionaries and others accurately conversant with the social condition of the people, leaves no doubt upon your Petitioners' minds, that these Acts have considerably diminished drunkenness ; together with crime, immorality, and domestic suffering, the fruit of intemperate habits.

That in your Petitioners' opinion the principle on which these Acts are based (that of reducing the public facilities for intemperate indulgence) is sound and unassailable; and may with great propriety be extended to those parts of Sunday when the

Here say from whom, and the name of the place whence, the Petition proceeds, whether Inhabitants or Congregation, &c.

+ Here insert Honourable if to the House of Commons, and Right Honourable if to the House of Lords.

temptations to drinking are still allowed to exist.

That this opinion is supported by the general tenor of the evidence given before the Parliamentary Committee on Public Houses, whose Report is now published, and has been fully confirmed by the happy results of the Scottish Public House Bill, which came into force in the May of 1854.

Your Petitioners, therefore, representing various classes of society, earnestly beseech yourt House

to pass a law in the present Session, prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors during the whole of Sunday,

And your Petitioners will ever pray.

THE RIGHT KIND OF
PREACHING.

Ir was a beautiful criticism made by Longinus upon the effect of the speaking of Cicero and Demosthenes. He says, The people would go from one of Cicero's orations, exclaiming, “What a beautiful speaker! what a rich, fine voice! What an eloquent man Cicero is!" They talked of Cicero: but when they left Demosthenes, they said, "Let us fight Philip!" Losing sight of the speaker, they were all absorbed in the subject; they thought not of Demosthenes, but of their country. So, my brethren, let us endeavour to send away from our ministrations the Christian, with his mouth full of the praises, not of "our preacher," but of God; and the sinner, not descanting upon the beautiful figures and well-turned periods of the discourse, but inquiring, with the brokenness of a penitent heart, “What shall I do to be saved?" So shall we be blessed in our work; and when called to leave the watch - towers of our spiritual Jerusalem, through the vast serene, like the deep melody of an angel's song, heaven's approving voice shall be heard.-Dr. Clarke's Sermon.

GOD'S POOREST SAINTS ARE USEFUL.

THERE once lived in one of the large cities of America a poor coloured woman, named Betty, who had been

confined by sickness for nearly twenty years. By the few friends who knew her she was familiarly called "Poor Betty." She had seen comfortable days, but had long been blind, and was said to be one hundred and five years old.

Mr. B. was a man of wealth and business in the same city. His signature was better than silver on the exchange, because it was more easily transferred. His sails whitened the ocean, his charity gladdened many hearts, and his family gave impulse to many benevolent operations. Notwithstanding the pressure of business, Mr. B. often found time to drop in and see what became of poor Betty. His voice, and even his step had become familiar to her, and always lighted up a smile on her dark wrinkled face, as he often said some pleasant things to cheer this lonely pilgrim on her way to Ziɔn.

One day Mr. B. took a friend from the country to see Betty. As he stopped and entered the cottage, he said, "Ah, Betty, you are alive yet." "Yes, tank God," said Betty. "Betty," said he, "why do you suppose God keeps you so long in this world, poor, and sick, and blind, when you might go to heaven and enjoy so much?

While Mr. B.'s tone and manner were half sportive, he yet uttered a serious thought which had more than once come over his mind. Now comes the sermon.

Betty assumed her most serious and animated tone and replied, "Ah, massa, you no understand it. Dare be two great things to do for the church; one be to pray for it, toder be to act for it.

Now, massa, God keep me alive to pray for de church, and he keep you alive to act for it. Your great gifts no do much good, massa, without poor Betty's prayers."

For a few moments Mr. B. and his friend stood silent, thrilled, and astonished. They felt the knowledge, the dignity, the moral sublimity of this short sermon. It seemed to draw aside the veil a little, and let them into heaven's mysteries. "Yes, Betty," replied Mr. B., in the most serious and subdued tones, "your prayers are of more importance to the church than my alms." This short sermon preached by poor Betty, was never forgotten by Mr. B. and his friend. It made them more prayerful, more submissive in afflictions.

TESTIMONY FROM THE

BALL-ROOM.

THE pastor of a church in New England preached a sermon from Job xxi. 11: " They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance." From this- he took occasion to illustrate the injurious effects of balls, dancing-schools, &c. As several of his hearers were fond of such amusements, the discourse roused not a little indignation. On one occasion, a pious man heard two persons denouncing the preacher and the sermon in unsparing terms. After listening to their conversation a few moments, he heard one of them say to the other," After all, I know, and you know, that what he said is all true."-Amer. Messenger.

THE WORK OF GOD.
OUR readers will be filled with

holy gratitude and joy in learning that the revival in the Potteries continues and spreads. The letters of our beloved President, the Rev. W. Mills, of Messrs. Ogden, Piggin, and Boycott, are of thrilling interest. The flame of holy influence which began at Longton has spread to

Hanley, Burslem, Newcastle, and some of the contiguous places. Our places of worship are filled night after night, until often numbers have to return in disappointment from the crowded doors. Sinners of every variety of character and condition are being converted to God. Profligates and formalists, drunkards and temperate persons,

blasphemers and backsliders, and not a few who had sat under the Gospel for many years in hardened indifference, are now seen penitently bowing before the power of truth, and imploring divine mercy, wrestling with God in tears and agonizing earnestness, resolving never to rest until pardon and salvation are obtained. Nor do they wrestle in vain. Their penitent cries are heard. God is gracious. The efficacy of the atonement is felt, and souls bathed in sorrow and distress on account of sin, are filled with peace and joy through believing in the Saviour. These glorious results extend to hundreds in each place, and among them are found persons of all ages, from the hoary headed sinner trembling on the margin of eternity, to the buoyant child of seven years. Parents are seen weeping for joy that a profligate son or a gay, thoughtless daughter is now bending before the cross of Christ; and children are seen grasping the hands and clinging to the necks of parents in holiest love and exulting gratitude, because they have at last yielded to the Lord. The crowded communion is oft a scene where the domestic affections and religious emotions are divinely blended-the sacred spot whence a whole family start on a new era of existence, leading from the pit of woe to the realms of eternal blessed

ness.

Nor are the benefits confined to our own denomination; for among the penitents and the saved are Wesleyans, Primitives, Reformers, Independents, Church people, and even Roman Catholics. It is worthy of remark, too, that the churches as well as individuals of other denominations, receive the quickening influence and share in the blessings of the revival. We rejoice in this, and hope the work will extend yet farther and farther in its glorious results.

Though the ministry of Mr. Booth prominently distinguished in this revival, yet it is not exclusively so. Our own ministers, our local preachers, our leaders, and other praying

men are found throwing their whole souls into this great movement; and their labours are signally owned of God. Hence the revival is general, the members being quickened as well as sinners being converted; the classes, prayer-meetings, and other means of grace being well attended, as well as the revival services being crowded. It will be seen too, that the good work continues in the several places, after the principal agent has left, to pursue his special calling in other towns. This is a most encouraging feature in the revival, for it proves two things,-First, that the work itself is not a transient ebullition of natural excitement, but the effect of God's own operation; and secondly, it shows that the Holy Spirit is just as ready to work by one devoted man as he is by another, when the same means are used, and the same prayerful, believing dependence upon God is exercised. Doubtless some men are more peculiarly fitted for this work than others are, but it is abundantly evident that all may succeed to no small extent; and satisfied we all are that the divine blessing will not be withheld when properly sought. This fact leads us to ask, why may not all our other circuits seek and obtain a revival without waiting for the presence of a special agent? The London circuit will readily surrender its claim to Mr. Booth's important services, in order to benefit the Connexion, but many months must necessarily transpire before Mr. Booth can visit every part of the Connexion; yet neither many months, nor many weeks need transpire before every place in the Connexion may be revived and brought into a state of abundant prosperity. We grant the importance of Mr. Booth's special labours, but we cannot grant the importance of any place waiting for a revival until he may be on the spot, nor the policy of expecting great success only in connection with his efforts. We say, let Mr. Booth go on in his blessed work, doing all the good for which God has so eminently qualified