crowning victors in the athletic sports, the runners, leapers, wrestlers, whose games and trials of strength were much the same as we now see carried on with ardour and emulation by our young men who obtain prizes of other kinds. It was to this custom of crowning the successful competitors, and to these games, that St. Paul alludes and takes from them the illustration with which he endeavours to lead his converts to put forth all their energy in striving to obtain the goal which is to be the end of the Christian race, and deduces the lesson of selfdenial and self-government. They who strive

for the mastery are temperate in all things," and to point out to them the higher prize to be obtained in "the race set before us." The runners, he says, "do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we are incorruptible."

While we learn the duty of persevering in "running the race which is set before us looking unto Jesus," in studying the subject of these Myrtle wreaths, do we not also see something of the importance of keeping a rightly made promise when we read of the custom of the Stipula, used to denote that a contract or promise had been made between two persons?

reminding us of the words of the Psalmist when describing those who are worthy to "dwell in God's Tabernacle," or "rest upon His Holy Hill" (to worship Him in His Church on earth), he tells us that it is "he who sweareth unto his neighbour and disappointeth him not tho' it were to his own hindrance."

But in order to "run the race" and win the prize, as well as to keep the promise, we must be filled with the love of God, who is love and has "manifested His love to us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

"Promise unto the Lord your God and keep it all ye that are round about."

The Passion Flower.

"I have found the Passion Flower.

"The Passion of our blessed Lord
With all His pangs and pain,
Set forth within a little flower,
In shape and colour plain!

"Behold the ladder, and the cord,
With which His limbs were tied ;
Behold His five deep cruel wounds
In hands, and feet, and side!

"Behold the hammer and the nails,
The bloody crown of thorn;
And these His precious tears when left
Of God and man forlorn!

"Up, I will forth into the world,
And take this flower with me,

To preach the death of Christ to all,
As it has preached to me."

And thus the good old passion flower
Throughout the world was sent,

To breathe into all Christian hearts
It's holy sentiment.

And in the aftertimes when kings.
Of Christian fathers came;
And to profess the faith of Christ
No longer purchased shame.

When abbeys rose in towered state,
And over wood and dell

Went sounding with a royal voice,
The stately minster bell.

Then was the abbey garden made
All with the nicest care;
Its little borders quaintly cut

In fancies rich and rare.

And there they brought all curious plants, With sainted names, a flower

For every saint's day of the year,

For every holy hour;

And there was set in pride of place,

The noble Passion Flower.

From "Birds and Flowers."

Mary Howitt.

The Passion flower.

FAITH.

HE Passion Flower was first known in

THE

Europe early in the 17th century, when its appearance caused a great sensation owing

to the wonderful manner in which it seemed to speak of some of the deepest mysteries of the faith. This flower was brought from South America, where it is called "The Flower of the five wounds." It represents not so directly the Cross of our Lord as the great mysteries of the Passion.

In the year 1625 the Passion Flower had blossomed in Rome in the gardens of the then greatest horticulturist living. The superintendent of the gardens writes of it thus: "This is the famous plant praised by physicians for its marvellous virtues, sought for eagerly by the sick, and venerated by all pious Christians." There is a very beautiful account of this flower given by a learned and pious Christian showing what it really teaches.

"The nails on the top are represented so