but for some weeks, when the class was first started, only two or three girls came, and perhaps the attempt might have dropped altogether had it not been for the help and encouragement of a simple cottage woman, who assisted in every way in her power to bring the girls together. Good, earnest soul! I can recall even now her bright dark eyes and eager interest as she welcomed me to my favourite haunts amongst the people I loved so well, and told of some new recruit for the weekly class.

Yes, reader, of her it may indeed be said that 'she did what she could;' and that humble gathering was the first link in the chain of circumstances that led to the foundation of the Girls' Friendly Society.

The original rough plan of the Society's work and aim was written down in pencil in a tiny note-book in 1872. It was to the G. F. S. that exists now, as the artist's first rude sketch is to the comparatively finished picture. To me it was, and ever has been, simply as a thought entrusted by God, to be kept as far as possible free from all personal feelings and motives, to be carried out and made to live when He would and as He would.

There was no haste in putting it forth-nothing at all was done till May, 1874, when an informal meeting of five friends, including Mrs. Harold Browne, Mrs. Nassau Senior, and Rev. T. V. Fosbery, were gathered together at Lambeth Palace, at the invitation of Mrs. Tait, who fostered and furthered so many works of usefulness. On that occasion it was determined to start the scheme, and in January, 1875, the Girls' Friendly Society was commenced by a few workers, very quietly and silently, without meetings, or subscriptions, or any visible measures to insure success; step by step they followed, as their Master led the way -heart to heart and shoulder to shoulder, one in aim and purpose, though the work was great and large and the workers were scattered far from one another,' they laboured and strove to build for the glory of God and to His honour alone. And when the time came that they had to fight as well as build, still the hand of God was upon their work for good, and He strengthened the hearts of those who toiled.

To tell the story of the early years of the Girls' Friendly Society would take a volume; and, indeed, so few records have been kept that it would be an almost impossible task. Greater and ever greater as years went on grew the increase of the Society's numbers; faster and faster in breathless pressure and heavy strain came the work. By January, 1878 (three years), the Society already numbered 10,678 Members, 4442 Asso

ciates, and 175 Branches, while in January, 1879, the numbers were found to have nearly doubled themselves. In the same year, 1879, was commenced that series of solemn Services in St. Paul's Cathedral* which have proved ever since such a help and blessing to our Associates, meeting there, known and unknown together, in the one communion and fellowship of the Blessed Sacrament of Love.

In May, 1880, at a representative meeting of delegates gathered from every diocese in England and Wales, the present Constitution of our Society was drawn up and firmly established on the basis of its Central Rules; and in the same year its work was crowned by the long-desired approval of our beloved Queen as its Patron and supporter.

The year 1882 saw the completion of the Society's Diocesan organization, every diocese (with one exception) having its Diocesan President and Council elected and ready for work; the Diocesan Presidents themselves forming the Central Council, with the addition of fifteen elected Members, as will be seen on reference to the printed list of the Society's Staff. We have now nine different departments, representing, both on Central and Diocesan Councils, nine different phases of work. The first three, for Members in Business, in Factories, and in Service, are intended to enable us to bring the Society to the notice of all these different classes of workers; not in any way with the wish to separate them still further into classes, but simply as a means to our end, which is to make it known that the G. F. S. is open to any girl in England, of any honest occupation, who is eligible under its Rules.

The names of the other Departments, for 'Lodges and Lodgings,'' Registries,' 'Literature,' 'G. F. S. Candidates from Workhouses and Orphanages,' 'Domestic Economy,'' Homes of Rest or help for Sick Members,' will partly tell their own tale. But the real work of the Society is done by its Branches, consisting each of Branch Secretary, Associates, and Members, and carrying out, each in their smaller circle and according to their circumstances, the different works represented by our Departments. For instance, a model Branch in a large manufacturing town would have special Associates to make the Society known to girls in different trades and' occupations; it would have a Lodge, which, besides lodgings, might contain Recreation Rooms, a Registry for Members in Business. or Service, a Library for circulating good and attrac

tive books, Cooking and Ambulance Classes, a Room of Rest for Sick Members, to whom also grants would probably be given in sickness from the Home of Rest Fund, chiefly supported by Members themselves. If there were a Workhouse, District School, or Orphanage within the area of the Branch, then one of the Associates would be chosen by the Branch to make it her special work to enrol the girls as candidates on going out into the world. Some day we hope it will come to pass that the Members of each Branch that is large enough to do so will join together to maintain and train one little orphan girl, so as to prevent her having to go into the workhouse, where, if we Christian women only did our duty, no Christian orphan child should ever be.

There are now, at the time I write, 640 Branches of the Girls' Friendly Society in England and Wales alone, 71,000 Members and 19,000 Associates; and although we must not measure our Society's success by its numbers (for has it not been well said that a chain is only the strength of its weakest link'), still the eagerness with which, in spite of many difficulties, the idea has been taken up, and the way in which our 'friendly work' has cemented the bonds of love and sympathy between all ranks and classes, are surely encouraging symptoms in these days of class separation and false independence.

There is, probably, no doubt that one thing which has greatly contributed to the spread of the Girls' Friendly Society, and to the deep hold it has taken in the hearts of the people, is the large number of cheap publications which it has been able to circulate, both with the view of describing its own work and also of promoting good literature. From the year 1876* the Society has produced and kept up its magazine, Friendly Leaves, a periodical of which now about 46,000 are sold monthly. It has also a Monthly Journal, intended exclusively for Associates; and it has been the means indirectly of causing the publication of large numbers of books suitable for members, though not undertaken at its own cost. Friendly Words for Our Girls, by Lady Baker, and The Girls' Book of Prayers and Hymns, have been sold to the amount of 16,000 and 28,000 copies respectively. Several of the G. F. S. Hymns and Songs also (notably True Friends, Pure in Soul and Body, the G. F. S. Toast, &c. &c., by the gifted authoress of Friendly Words for Our Girls), have become extremely popular, and exercise, as it seems, no small influence on the Society at large. Give me the

*In this first year of its existence the Magazine was issued quarterly.

making of a nation's songs, and I will leave you to make its laws;' so said one of old, and with a deep truth applicable to all large associations of persons, who are ever strongly stirred by those strains which 'lips of thousands lift as from the heart of one.'

It is an earnest hope with some of us, who know the need of disseminating widely, and bringing even to their doors, much pure and wholesome reading for our working girls and women, that one day the Society may be able to employ book-hawkers of its own, who shall carry our friendly literature of song and story and counsel far and wide. While on this subject I would not omit to mention, that to encourage our Members in the study of the 'best of books' has ever been the aim of our Society through its Magazine, which offers annually several prizes for competitions in Scripture, as well as in other branches of useful knowledge.

In looking over the records of the past year (1882), several incidents strike us as worthy of note and likely to interest our readers.

At the beginning of this year was first issued the G. F.S. Marriage Card, now so much valued by our Members when presented to them on their honourable marriage by their respective Branches. Yes, in many a working man's house there now hangs this testimony to the value of an unblemished character, and the words of the wise king are blazoned forth as apples of gold in pictures of silver: who can find a virtuous woman? her price is above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her . . . she will do him good and not evil all the days of his life' (Prov. xxxi. 10-12); while the lily in its whiteness and the Christlike motto of our Society serve to remind each wife and mother how the sunbeams of love and purity should brighten every Christian home.

The G.F.S. Home Almanack (illustrated) was alsc first issued in 1882; it contains a daily text on each of the Scripture Rules of Life (see Members' Guide-book) arranged for every month. That this almanack has been welcomed by our Members is proved by our having sold between 30 and 40,000 copies on its first appearance.

Bearing also on the subject of home is the movement which has been set on foot for the enrolment of candidates for the G. F. S.-little maidens, who, according to the provisions of our Constitution, may have their names entered for the Society from eight years old. 'Too young,' we think we hear some one exclaim; 'far too young to know anything about the G. F. S. or what it means.' Ah, yes! dear readers, and so we should have thought once ourselves; but we live in days of sad revelations and sad convictions, and we

know for a certain fact that even at that young age our unsheltered little ones are not too young to know what evil means, to learn it, to breathe it, to sin or to be sinned against. Surely, then, they are not too young to be taught, in simple, motherly fashion, the lessons of modesty and purity and truth? Not too young to have their innocence shielded, and to be trained to help and love each other for the sake of Him Who was once Himself a child? Above all, by enlisting the children we hope to enlist the interest of the parents. If every father and mother in England did their duty, no Girls' Friendly Society would be needed, at all events for the little ones. But can we say that it is so? Can we say that all English homes are guarded as they should be, that every English child is being brought up according to that time-honoured phrase of our Church Catechism, in temperance, soberness, and chastity?'

Another very hopeful effort in the same direction has been this year inaugurated, namely, the inviting of National Schoolmistresses to co-operate with the Girls' Friendly Society in its work. A special 'Appeal'* has been drawn up and printed, and widely circulated. (we only wish it were more widely circulated amongst them), and better still, several meetings have been called, where a large number of those who hold this important-I had almost said sacred-office of teaching and training the youth of our working classes were assembled to hear the Society's objects explained. One of these gatherings was held at Droitwich at the invitation of the Archdeacon of Worcester, another at Fulham, and a third was called by the Bishop of Bedford; they were attended by the Diocesan Presidents respectively, and by the Correspondent specially appointed to make the Society known to Mistresses of Elementary Schools (Miss Oxenham, Nutcombe House, Weybridge). The following extract from a letter written for the Droitwich Meeting by the Presi dent of Central Council may perhaps be quoted here:

From you

'Next to parents, you who are teachers have perhaps more influence than any one else can have on the little maidens of this generation. From you they may and do learn, both by precept and example, what it is to be a true, and pure, and faithful Christian woman. they may learn how to honour and help their parents; how to brighten their homes when they go back to them; how to be modest in their ways, watchful and kind to their brothers and sisters, unselfish to their school companions in short, how to be faithful in that which is least, until God shall give them a larger sphere and a higher trust.

An Appeal to Mistresses of Elementary Schools, from the Girls' Friendly Society. Price 2d.; 12s. 6d. per 100. Hatchards.

For these little girls-albeit they may seem often, as a matter of fact, commonplace and uninteresting enough, and sometimes very tiresome at their lessons, as you and I know full well—are yet, for all that, the future women of England, her future wives and mothers, those who will do much of the work of the world, those who will one day reign, each one, in the kingdom of home.

'And it is because we know that we cannot begin too early to sow the good seed in these little hearts, that we of the Girls' Friendly Society are asking all who have influence over girls from their earliest years-parents, and teachers, and employers, and friends-to help us in our special work, which is to encourage them in purity of life, to teach them to guard their modesty as a precious jewel; to avoid all rude, rough ways, which, alas! the children of too many of our working homes so early learn. We ask you to help us, too, in telling them about the Girls' Friendly Society while they are still in their homes; because we want all our girls to join our ranks (first as Candidates and then as Members) from their own homes; and we think that you, their teachers, will have much power to recommend the Society to the parents of your pupils, who must know how greatly you have their interest at heart. You will be able to explain to them how the Girls' Friendly Society (to which we hope you yourselves also belong) desires to stretch out its friendly hand to their girls when they go out into the world, far from home and friends, innocent still and unsuspecting of evil, and the more innocent, often the more easily misled. And we would beg you also especially to explain, both to parents and children, that the Girls' Friendly Society expects every one of its Members (as well as its Associates) to carry out into practice the grand old proverb of the wise king, "He that hath friends must show himself friendly;" so that the more love and friendship and protection they receive themselves, the more they must show to others in their turn-helping each other to stand firm in the fight against evil, and encouraging each other in the service of our one Master. Do not let any one think that our Society has a tendency to make girls self-important, or selfish, or insubordinate, or independent in a wrong sense. If rightly understood, our Society has no such aim; and, if wisely worked, it will have no such effect. We do wish our girls to grow up dignified and self-respecting; but we would have them also loving, and faithful, and dutiful. . . .

'Prevention is far better than cure, and you will indeed be doing a beautiful work for your scholars if you can not only cultivate their minds, but also win their hearts and lives for higher things, if you can help them (and aid others in helping them) to keep their girlhood happy and unstained now, and to become, themselves, centres of pure and holy influence hereafter.'

The Girls' Friendly Society has never depended much on platform eloquence, having ever held that woman's work should be as silently and quietly carried on as possible. But it is sometimes necessary to inform the public of the real aims and intentions of a

large and rapidly increasing Society, and this was very ably and effectually done at a great public Meeting held this year, by the kindness' of the Lord Mayor, and under his presidency, at the Mansion Housecuriously enough, the only public Meeting that has ever been held by the Society in London. The beautiful Egyptian Hall, capable of holding a thousand people, was completely filled from end to end, and the Lord Mayor himself was pleased to say that of all the many influential meetings held there, none had been more interesting or more successful than this.

Two Conversaziones, specially intended to bring the Society to the notice of employers of Young Women in Business, were given by Lady Mary Egerton and Lady Brabazon respectively, in the spring and autumn of the year; and a Public Meeting, chiefly for the same object, was also held at Birmingham in May last, and presided over by the Marquis of Hertford.

I

Three other gatherings of still higher and deeper interest were held during the past year, and have formed quite an epoch in the life of our Society. allude to the three great Diocesan Festivals for Members. The first assembling at St. Paul's Cathedral on the 24th of June; the second at Chester Cathedral on the 29th of June; and the third at York Minster on the 1st of August. At the London Diocesan Festival nearly 3000 were present, chiefly G. F. S. Members of the London diocese, accompanied by some of their Associates. The address was given by the Rev. Canon Shuttleworth, and the musical part of the service was effectively rendered by the choir of the Lay Helpers' Association. In the quaint old city of Chester, 1100 belonging to the Society, and from all parts of the diocese, attended the festival, and we are told that the sight of so large a congregation of eager young faces, hushed into calm by the solemnity of the occasion, was most impressive. One feature of this service struck us, too, as especially touching. The Offertory, amounting to 187. 125. 9d., being nearly all collected in coppers, was so heavy that it was with some difficulty conveyed to the altar! Surely such willing offerings, from those who gave out of their hearts and not out of their abundance, must have been dear to Him who 'sat over the treasury.' Very solemn and heartstirring, too, must have been the service in the grand old northern Minster, where the Members of 18 Branches were gathered together from every nook and corner of the vast diocese of York, every girl, and every Associate, wearing a white rose; so that not since the days of the 15th century have so many white roses been seen in the streets of ancient York. Sweet it must have been

to hear those fresh young voices lifted in the strains of praise that rang through the great cathedral, and joining in their own special hymns, 'Pure in soul and body,' and 'True friends help each other.' The address given by the Archbishop on 'Martha's care and Mary's love' is one of peculiar impressiveness and beauty.

Scarcely less important, and in some ways more remarkable even than the above-mentioned gatherings, was the festival of a single Branch, which I had the pleasure of attending on the 14th of November last, at Birmingham, where about 900 G. F. S. Members, of whom the larger proportion are workers in mills and factories, were assembled,-first for tea in the Town Hall; then repairing to St. Philip's Church, one of the largest in Birmingham, which they completely filled from end to end; and then, after the bright and reverent service, returning to the Hall in perfect order, were entertained for the rest of the evening by addresses, distribution of prizes, wedding presents and bonuses, and a concert kindly given by the Kyrle Society. Thanks also to the same Society, a pretty feature was added to the programme of the evening. As each Member left the Hall she was presented with a plant (chiefly geraniums in pots), and it was pleasant to stand and watch the girls as they hurried smilingly away, each hugging her little tree. Only four years before, on the very same day, a small meeting was held at Birmingham through the kindness of Mrs. Willoughby Wilkinson, and this great Branch, with all its complete and varied organization, is the result, animated by the gentle, inspiring energy of its popular Branch Secretary.

Truly such monster meetings require courage and forethought, and special caution in their management; but there is no doubt that with these they are useful as an occasional demonstration of what the Society is as a whole. Arnold used to say, 'What can you say to boys who have never seen the sea ?' and one often feels equally perplexed in speaking to people who have never seen the Girls' Friendly Society' except in the person of some isolated Member or Associate, who did not, perhaps, quite worthily represent the Society's aims and objects!

In recording the advances made by our Society this year we must not forget to note a very important one in the direction of promoting home knowledge and industrial training amongst our girls.

We cannot but look upon our large and increasing body of Members as likely to have a very marked influence, for good or evil, on the future of our country, as wives and mothers of England. If our Society should tend to make them selfish, and self-important,

and self-seeking, if it should foster the wrong kind of independence and fail in fostering the right kind, if it should end in emphasizing and embittering class distinctions, instead of only recognising them to dignify and Christianise them, then, indeed, the G. F. S. will do more harm than good; but if we can teach our girls to love home, and family, and duty, to be 'chaste and obedient, keepers at home,' and at the same time show them how to add to the comforts and the brightness of that home, we shall be contributing some little help to our country's need. We think, too, that to put our Members in the way of honest occupation, suitable to their capacities (for all girls are not suited to the same kind of work), will be one safeguard towards the preservation of an unblemished character, the value of which, to rich and poor alike, is one of the principles for which we most earnestly contend. For these reasons mainly the Department for Domestic Economy and Industrial Training has recently been developed, and is daily opening out more paths of useful help for our Members.

In gathering up these scattered threads with the hope of interesting the readers of Friendly Work, we have been following, though but imperfectly, the progress of the Girls' Friendly Society in our own country. But it is impossible to close this retrospect and record without noticing that the same friendly seed has been sown in other and far-distant lands, and is there also bringing forth fruit. When our Members migrate or emigrate to Scotland, Ireland, America, and Australia, they find sister Societies established there, for the most part on the same Central Rules as our own; and latterly great efforts have been made not only to spread the G. F. S. in Canada and other colonies in consequence of the tide of emigration which is so rapidly carrying our Members in that direction, but also to establish some definite treaty with all the Colonial Societies who desire to bear our name and accept our fundamental Rules, which are to us indeed not mere Rules, but living principles of action.

*

In conclusion, if any one should say-What is the one real object of all this vast machinery and organization? We see that it is large and far-reaching, and possibly it may be useful; but what is, after all, the soul and spirit of the whole thing, that which will be as salt to keep this unwieldy mass from deteriorating? We would say at once, that our Society was started not for secular ends alone, but to assist, if ever so humbly, our younger and more hard-worked sisters to follow in the steps of our one Master, by showing them

how Christian women can love one another.' We would answer, in words which have been already used in pleading for the national character of our work, The Girls' Friendly Society aims at preserving purity, not merely by the outward aids of help and protection (though these are freely used in a very practical manner), but by endeavouring to awaken in the minds of women of all classes a sense of the preciousness of that purity in the sight of God-by seeking to band women together to strive for the honour of womanhood, because womanhood has been consecrated by Him and should be consecrated to Him-by proclaiming boldly and fearlessly that virtue is of no class, and impossible to no class, and that in this matter all are concerned, not only for themselves, but for others.'

'For when we invite to join the Girls' Friendly Society we do not merely say, Society we do not merely say, "Come, because you have need of us;" but "Come, because we have need of you." We want your help in the work, your witness as Christian women for purity and faithfulness and truth, not only as servants in the household, but as dutiful daughters in the home, as conscientious workers in the shop and the workroom, the factory and the school; wherever, in short, you, as women, are doing your part in the work of the world.'

'And because we hold that Love is the only key that can open hearts, strengthening them in the fight. against evil and temptation, therefore we ask all in our Society to bear each other's burden-the older and more educated to help the younger, the experienced to guide the inexperienced, the leisured to rest the toilers, the young and healthful to cheer the sick, the possessors of many gifts to share them with those who have few; but the gifts of love, and friendship, and sympathy are shared by all alike—not only to be given to all, but to be taken from all; and it is this which has made the success of our Society, this that has caused it to be as a household word to many hearts, and this that has won for it, as we humbly think, the Divine blessing.'

'Whenever the spirit of love shall die out of the Girls' Friendly Society, whenever this better and nobler. ideal of womanhood shall cease to be set before it, whenever its work shall tend to foster self-righteousness, or self-interest, cr pride, then it will fall, and it were better that it should. But, till then, we claim for it, as a national Society, the help of all who can join it, and all who can work for it, in every rank and class-both as employers and employed.'

M. E. TOWNSEND,

Late President of G. F. S. Central Council.