AUSTRALIAN SUNDA】

SCHOLARS.

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upper end-on the edge of which stands the Bishop's residencewhere the party embarked in steamers, and preceded by a fleet of white-sailed yachts, traversed, to the accompaniment of joyous music, what had been not forty years before a wild forest-tarn, haunted by naked savages.

But, where in all this was any recognition of the Giver of all good, the God of all the earth? In the public welcome of Christian Princes, heirs of the greatness of a Christian empire, a Christian city should hardly ignore its Christianity. Called hurriedly together, the Protestant ministers of Ballaarat had resolved, if possible, to remedy this defect in the civic programme; and the idea was started of bringing the Sunday scholars and the Royal visitors together, and thus providing some opportunity of doing public homage to Him who "ruleth among princes.'

A hearty response to the proposal had been met with at Government House; the Mayor of Ballaarat was a Sunday-school teacher, and difficulties raised by the City council had been Overcome. The result, as finally accomplished, was admirable.

At about half-past two the Princes, accompanied by the Governor and Ministers of state, and the Admiral and high officers of the squadron, emerging from the handsome city hall, passed on foot through an immense crowd to the Academy of Music, a fine building near the heart of the city, where some 4,000 Sunday scholars— out of a total of 10,000 in the Sunday-schools of Ballaarat-with their teachers, filling every crevice of the hall (except the platform) from floor to ceiling, were gathered to welcome them. On the platform, the Protestant ministers-about twenty-five in numberof all denominations received and placed the visitors, the children rising in perfect order and silence as they entered. At a signal promptly given, the whole throng burst forth without instrument or other aid, but with perfect precision and thrilling effect, into a verse of the old hymn :

"All hail the power of Jesu's name

Let angels prostate fall!

Bring forth the royal diadem,

And crown Him Lord of all!"

Then came silence. I had been deputed to speak, and did so very briefly. No address was read or presented. I simply told the Princes, in effect, how thankful our Sunday scholars were to see them, and how they desired to offer them some memento of their visit, which should express the fervent loyalty of our Sunday-schools to the Queen, and their heartfelt interest in their Royal Highnesses.. The Sunday scholars knew of no richer treasure than the Word of the living God; I therefore asked, in their behalf, the Princes'

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AUSTRALIAN SUNDAY SCHOLARS.

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acceptance of two pocket Bibles, with the assurance of their earnest. desire and prayer that Almighty God would bless them both. The Bibles were inscribed with the Princes' names: "From Sunday scholars of Ballaarat, Victoria, June 29, 1881." It was impossible to mistake the emotion with which the Princes received the present.

At once, the vast choir burst forth again :

"O that, with yonder sacred throng,

We at His feet may fall;

There join the everlasting song,

And crown Him Lord of all!"

The spectacle, and the overwhelming effect of the singing, in which every voice and every heart seemed to unite, were most impressive. Prince Albert Victor seemed too much moved to speak, and after having with his brother bowed his thanks, asked the Governor (the Marquis of Normanby) to say a few words for him. His Excellency acknowledged the present in behalf of their Royal Highnesses in feeling terms. They would long cherish the Bibles, he said, both from their inestimable contents, and in grateful remembrance of their welcome by the Sunday scholars of Ballaarat. Acting as fugleman, I now stepped forward and called for three cheers for Her Majesty; for the Princes, with one cheer more, and for the Governor. Such cheers! All cheering had been forbidden till this point, and the obedience and order of the children had been perfect. I was reminded of Joshua's charge to the people before Jericho, "Ye shall not shout nor make any noise with your voice until I bid you shout; then shall ye shout." They did, weknow, to some purpose, at Jericho; they did at Ballaarat! By distributing hymn-papers of different colours, three huge bands of red, white and blue, had been made to run round the building, and the simultaneous waving of the papers in time with the cheers had a beautiful effect. "God save our Gracious Queen" followed, and then the living torrent disgorged itself into the ocean of the crowd outside.

The Princes did not put their Bibles away, but seemed to take special interest in showing them. I am told on good authority that they were greatly impressed with this particular item in the day's programme.

Presumably, at some future day, Albert Victor of Wales will wield the sceptre of an empire, beside which that of Alexander or the Cæsars was insignificant. God grant that he may take as his guide in the mighty task the Book the Sunday scholars gave him at Ballaarat.-From the Church Sunday School Magazine.

प्र

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This question has been asked many times. Yes, we must reply, except the number of cuffs for the policemen, only 270 large enough for them came instead of 400! but two stations were provided, and each had a Christmas Card, and some had Text Books. All were pleased. Early in November, parcels and boxes began to arrive, in number over 180, and the feeling seemed this year, we will send better things than last to help cheer these sick, aged, and little ones." Now what came? Cuffs of all sizes-Christmas letters, cards of every description, books, work bags, spectacles and cases, pens, pencils, blotting books, beautiful scrap books, cork and velvet frames, dolls and their dinner and tea services, balls, comforters, boxes of sweets, bags of gelatines, pictures, pin cushions, needle books, lavender bags, with which the blind were delighted, "My Cards," &c.

How many you have helped to cheer, you have no idea. Two old women sat on a bed eating their sweets, and saying: "We haven't had such a treat as this for years."

The mint lozenges were very delightful.

"You

One writes from a hospital which we supplied with your gifts: can't imagine the pleasure the cuffs have given; I had enough for inpatients and a few out-patients, they were all delighted—and well they might be with such warm, well made, comfortable articles-and looked as cozy as possible with the bright colours appearing under their coats."

From The Royal Hospital for Incurables we have also received thanks. The children at Holloway were much pleased with the letters children wrote to them, and would like to know who wrote them such nice letters! All Maggie's book markers have been used.

This year more things being sent in, many more participated. The kind letters and sympathy gave us great joy here. How many kind hearts there are to be found in time of need! Special thanks we would give to those who sent from Ryde, Derby, Kingsbridge, Putney Hill, Bishop's Down, Grove Spa, and Piccadilly. To three friends who sent the holly and evergreens, many little fingers working out of school hours, several servants who wished to do something for their Lord and Master, many members of the "Bible and Prayer Union" and readers of LIVING WATERS who gave no name or address, to the little man who sent two

pairs of cuffs "for the peelers," to each, and all, we would say, "Thank you!" May the Lord Himself bless you for all you have done for Him. The nurses were very much pleased with being remembered, for they often grow weary and are tired.

"POWER TO LET."

ISS LOWE'S paper some little time since in LIVING WATERS, on the "Needs of India," especially its women, and our individual responsibility towards them, has led me to hope that there must be some readers like myself, who would gladly aid in sending a blessing to those poor "hidden The sisters" and fellow subjects, if they cannot themselves be the bearers of good news to that far country.

Let us this year try and send a practical answer to the Indian woman's question-"Is there no water of life for us?" We know that the Fountain of Living Water is deep and wide enough for all England and India's needs. How guilty then, shall we be if, having tasted of this Living Water ourselves, we withhold it from those who are perishing of thirst, and stretching out their hands for a draught!

There are few English families who are not connected with our Indian Empire in some way. Many have obtained from it civil or military honours and wealth. Our homes are embellished by their beautiful works of art; the skilful handiwork of Indian women envelopes the shoulders of European ladies, and no more devoted and tenderhearted nurse can our children or sick ones have than the faithful Hindu Ayah.. And what have we given India in return?

Government is giving a first-class secular education in the schools and colleges where. the youths of India are trained to compete with Englishmen for high Government situations, and hundreds are eagerly availing themselves of these advantages; but here they obtain education without the knowledge of God, and a high mental civilisation without a faith. The old superstitions of Hinduism and Mohammedanism are surely losing their power, and we give these dangerously-cultivated youths nothing in their place but dark infidelity or Theism.

But some reader may justly say, We women cannot alter the system of Government Education in India! No. But we can try to supplement it. If we want to control the course of a river, we begin at its source. Therefore, we want to lead into the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the mothers of India's clever sons, and painfully ignorant and secluded daughters.

A missionary lady just returned to India, after a brief rest in England,

lately pointed out that there was much need of a caste-girl's school in a village of Masulipatam, called, in English, "the parent-village," near which two devoted Irish ladies have been labouring for some years. Their hands are already full of pressing work, visiting Zenanas, teaching, &c., but the establishment of this particular school has been pleaded for by the native ladies themselves, and here is an opportunity of helping to lead into the way of truth these bright, lovable, high caste-girls before they become wives and mothers, and are shut up in their husbands' homes, where we can only reach a very few of them. The value of Bible-teaching is even now being felt by some of the liberal-minded Hindus (read the striking testimony at page 36),_who sometimes bring home to their desolate young wives our precious Book, that they may from it obtain some consolation or distraction in their

sorrow.

If £20 a year could be collected, it would help very materially towards the establishment of this school. It would be under the superintendence of the missionary ladies above alluded to, who are working in connection with the Church of England Zenana Missionary Society, and they would from time to time send us word of the success of this little effort. Very humbly I, therefore, suggest that if two or more ladies are found who will try to collect annually the sums of two, three, or five pounds, I will, God willing, endeavour to gather up the remaining amount. The money will be sent through the Society's Agents in London, and the subscriptions mentioned in the annual report for Masulipatam.

The smallest sums will be gratefully received by Geraldine Symes, to the care of Rev. Charles Fox, 1, Coleshill Street, London, S.W.

The words at the head of this little paper were suggested to my mind by hearing a clergyman one day describe a walk in the country, and seeing over an old disused water mill, this inscription, "Power to Let."

We do not want Him to write over any of our purses, "Power to Let"-unused power, therefore, wasted power. We don't want Him to write it over our personal influence. Set all flowing, and, little as it may seem, each drop will help to set the great work in motion.

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Our powers of giving may be " very little," but in the Bible, God seems to set great value on very little" and "weak" persons. I suppose because He multiplies the "little," and so invigorates the weak, that the "exceeding greatness of His power" may shine through the "broken pitchers." For that reason we want our young girl friends to send some of their pennies to India out of their Christmas gifts. If the "Water of Life" is really bubbling up in our hearts, it will overflow to our poor Indian sisters, and those who cannot give pounds or pennies, will, I am sure, send up persevering prayer, and add the weight of their personal influence. Then we shall not fear that those terrible little words, "Power to Let "will be written over our persons or our purses.