the characters of the girls and the different views of the parents on Confirmation are true to life. The doctrine of Confirmation is well put; altogether it is a most satisfactory work. The four months' preparation and examination; the view of its being a coming to GOD for grace and strength of His HOLY SPIRIT in the way He has ordained; the renewal of the vow occupying the second place as it should; the gift chiefly as a way to Holy Communion, &c. We could wish that fourteen had not been the limited age, but we are thankful to see that practically that restriction is growing out. The following passage will justify our approbation:

6

"Indeed, Miss Evans,' said Mrs. Bowen, I have heard of nothing since the notice was given out in church but that confirmation; the girl is wild about it, and I do think she's fit to go, for she's as religiously minded a girl as ever I came near; her uncle and I often say she's too particular about her prayers and such-like; he don't see the need of it, he says--'

"Oh Mrs. Bowen,' began the young lady eagerly, do not say so! How can anyone think too much of those things? I am very glad indeed that Ann is more thoughtful than some of her age, and I do really hope that she will have the blessing of confirmation

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"Yes, miss,' began the aunt, in a tone that showed she was not quite pleased, as I said, you'll find Ann quite fit for it.'

"Miss Evans hardly knew how to answer; she was grieved first, at the idea expressed by Mrs. Bowen that her niece's attention to religious duties was more than necessary, and next, that the child was liable to hear herself spoken of, on that account as 'fit' for confirmation, for the holy gift of the SAVIOUR'S blessing and the SPIRIT'S might. At last she said

"I do not think Ann would say so, Mrs. Bowen; but here she comes to speak for herself. Come and tell me, Ann,' she added, turning to the little girl, who entered at that moment, what do you think your aunt and I have been talking about?'

"Is it the confirmation, miss?' said Ann, coming timidly up to her teacher's side.

"Yes, Ann, I am come to tell you that Mr. Evans would like you to come to the Rectory on Wednesday, at seven o'clock; you will come?'

"Oh yes, miss!'

"You seem very happy about it, Ann, why is it?'

"I want to be confirmed so very much, please, miss,' said Ann, in a low voice, but very eagerly.

"But, Ann, don't you think people ought to be very good to be confirmed? are you fit for such a holy thing?'

"Ann waited for a moment as if she hardly knew how to explain her meaning, then she said—

"Please, miss, I'm not fit; I mean I'm not good, but that's why I want to go.'

"Because you are not good, Ann, and of what use will confirmation be to you then?'

"Please, miss, I hope I shall be better; I hope He will make me better.'

"Quite right, Ann,' said Miss Evans; 'I have been asking you those questions to find out if you really understood what you are to hope for in confirmation. It is not intended, as some people think, as a service for those that are called 'good;' it is a help for those who have often, it may be, sinned very deeply, but who are really trying to keep the promises made for them at their baptism, and a means by which GOD gives them new strength to walk in His ways. What is the matter, Annie?' added the young lady, seeing that the child's tears were falling fast.

"There was no answer, but the head fell still lower, and the girl turned away to hide her face.

"There, Annie,' said her aunt, in an impatient voice, why can't you leave off that foolish crying, and speak out?'

"She will in a minute, I daresay,' said Miss Evans, putting her arm round the child, and drawing her gently towards her. • You are thinking about your dear mother, how much she would like to see you confirmed; isn't that it?' she asked, in a whispered voice. "Yes, miss,' sobbed Ann, in the midst of her tears.

"I thought so, but I can give you some comfort, Annie. What is it that comes after confirmation?'

"The Holy Communion,' said Ann, reverently.

"Yes; I think you know why it is called Communion;' that means being united, being all in one. In that feast we think of CHRIST and of His Church as being one body; many thousand members of His Church have left this earth, but still they are a part of the same body; living and dead, all are one in Him. So, when we join in the song of praise in the service for the Holy Communion, we believe that not only we ourselves, but all those who have departed this life in His faith and fear, are joining in that worship, and isn't it delightful to think that those we have loved so much and who are gone from us your mother, Annie, is among those-are praising GOD with us, not divided from us there, for there we are united again, but singing, only better than we, the song that angels and archangels chant in Heaven? Think of that, Annie, and you will be much happier.'"-Pp. 20-24.

We can heartily commend this book, and we know of none so practical or so real on the subject, especially fitted for parish circulation.

A Plea for Sunday, (Mozleys,) is a very earnest and stirring appeal to the working classes, sound and useful.

Text Emblems. (London: J. T. Hayes.) This is a small book of Emblems somewhat on the plan of "The Way of Eternal Life," but the designs are not equal to those beautiful and telling compositions. It will, no doubt, be useful to many who are ad

mirers of Quarles. Our favourite one is the Cross for a Raft floating on the waters.

A Pastor's Address to his District Visitors. By the Rev. E. L. Cutts. (London: Mozleys.) Some excellent advice to those who are willing to carry out this good work under authority. The popular faults of ordinary district visiting are admirably pointed

out.

Jane's Sewing. (Mozleys.) This is an attempt to impress upon poor people that most difficult lesson (especially in the country) that in turning their children to the best account for the time being, they are not always going the safest way for their prosperity, and that it is far better to make a "present sacrifice for a future benefit."

Sarah Whitwell.

(Mozleys.) This is an excellent story for a parish library. The two ways of working, for this world only ignoring the next, and for this only as it should lead to a happy end, are well set forth.

Church News.

ALL SAINTS', NOTTING HILL.

"PITY the gentleman who began that church did not first sit down and count the cost!" To elicit a sneer of this kind from travellers on the Great Western Railway, has been the lot—almost the use of an edifice destined for the worship of God, which for a length of time stood unfinished, about a mile from the terminus, and a little more than a quarter of that distance from the south side of the line. Uncharitable as such a remark always is, in this instance it was also equally unjust. For while the cost may be reckoned up with comparative ease; no arithmetical acumen can calculate the mischief an enemy may do, no architectural skill can lay a foundation that evil may not undermine. That "Church of the future," as it so long was, added another to the line of mourning witnesses of God's work retarded by man's counterwork. Now at length it is a church of the present; though "curtailed of some of its fair proportions," and so but little illustrating the conceptions of the architect; and still less the noble designs, and nobler desires of its founder. There it stands and bears its daily witness to the duty of public worship. There every morning and evening it opens its spacious welcome to all who "love the habitation of the LORD's House and the place where His honour dwelleth."

This happier state of affairs has existed since the ninth day of April last. At three o'clock on that afternoon, the building was formally dedicated to the service of the ALMIGHTY by the Bishop of the diocese. The procession from the vestry into the chancel was of a goodly company of surpliced boys and men, with several Priests, beside those whose office brought them thither. The 24th Psalm was read or rather talked, while part of the procession walked up and down the aisle, the choir remaining in their stalls.

As it was afternoon, an unusual hour for the consecration of a church, the Holy Communion was not administered, though the corrupt practice of later celebrations is not unknown in Paddington. But there was a celebration on the following morning. Moreover, sermons were delivered daily throughout the Octave with offertory collections. At the consecration the Bishop preached on the Company of All Saints, to whom the church is dedicated. He especially reminded his hearers of the secret self-denial by which Saints are perfected, and the unseen sufferings through which they have to pass. And if there was herein an allusion to the patient founder, slight as it was, it was (we fear) the only acknowledgment, in church or out, at the high table of the clergy, or the lower one of the organist, that was offered to one who has suffered, and is suffering in the endeavour to do much for CHRIST and His Church.

Since then he seems to be thus forgotten, where he ought to be most remembered; it may be well to record a few traits in his character, and a few facts in his life closely connected with our present subject.

On July 17, 1852, the foundation stone was laid, carrying the following inscription:

"In the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. Amen.

"To the honour and glory of GOD, and in the Name of All His Saints, is the chief corner-stone of this Church laid, on the 17th day of July, in the year of our LORD JESUS 1852, by S. EDMUND WALKER, D.D., Rector of S. Columb Major, in the County of Cornwall, as a Memorial to his beloved Father and Mother, EDMUND WALKER, Esquire, (Master of the Court of Exchequer) who deceased the 17th day of July, 1851, aged 70, and ESTHER his Wife, who deceased the 16th day of December, 1850, aged 67, both late of Fryern Barnet, in the County of Middlesex, where their remains rest. Glory to GOD in the highest, on earth peace, good will towards men."

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It is then a memorial to his beloved father and mother. And never can have been a more affectionate son than he. In the

minutest actions of his life their wish was his law. And what nobler monument of his devotion could a son erect, than a free church on the estate inherited from his father? A worthy example too he herein set-or an old one revived-for other landholders, one too that has been followed in an eastern suburb,' if not elsewhere, of building for GOD before building for man.

It may be noticed that the first stone was laid on the first anniversary of his father's decease to such a son a day of mingled sorrow and satisfaction. The entrancing sounds which rose from his own little white-robed band of choristers, gathered at great expense from all parts of England, aided in drawing tears from his eyes, partly of grief for his own loss, but even more of gratitude to his Heavenly FATHER, and of hope. For there rose before him the prospect of a magnificent church, rich and real in all its parts and details, open free to all comers, where high and low might meet side by side; where the Holy Eu charist and the offertory of alms should form part of all festival worship, and daily should be exhibited the full and chaste beauty of the devotional services authorized in the Prayer Book of the Church of England, of the literal interpretation of which none was ever more strictly observant. He saw too, schools and college, and parsonage, and almshouses, that were soon to spring up around. Then his thoughts strayed to his distant Rectory in Cornwall, where he had repaid good for evil; where he had stored many a remembrance of his mother, and had once prepared a place of rest for his father's declining years; where since that might not be, he hoped a Bishop of Cornwall and four Canons would soon be doing effectually, work now so ineffectually attempted by himself and curates. But he did not see (or his heart would have broken,) that for five years the only life around this spot would be children playing, cattle grazing, gipsies encamping; that the only sounds within the well-proportioned walls which were there to rise would until 1860 be the dull beat of carpets. In the ninth year, indeed, the church should be consecrated, but not free: his beloved poor thrust back into the tower or distant corners, that the rich may have their comfort, and the incumbent a stipend for his outlay. Nine years, and still no college, no school, no house. Nine years and more, and no Bishop of S. Columb, no promise of one. Perhaps the greatest mercy of all is his absence from the sight of all this—an exile through the failure of some in whom he trusted-and through his own determination to fulfil to the utmost of his ability the promise he made to the Church of England.

All Saints', Notting Hill, has been called a facsimile of S.

1 S. Paul's, Bow Common.