SECOND QUARTER. 4 The Apostles in Prison... | Acts v. 12-26...... Peter iv. 1. 11 18 Apostles before the Council The Seven chosen.... 25 Review-The Gospel Pro Acts vi.... Acts v. 27-42...... Rom. viii. 31. James i. 27. claimed.......... 12.-Pistol, chilon, verse, bugle, cress, nice, despise. 66 Speech is silver, but silence is gold." QUESTIONS. 17.-What public proofs did some of the Ephesians give of their conversion to Christianity? 18.- When did our Lord give offence, and what occasioned it? 19.-A town, the scene of one of our Lord's greatest miracles, is mentioned only once in the Bible. Give its name and say where it is mentioned. 20.-Mention a prophet of whose personal history nothing is known, neither his birthplace nor his kindred, neither the time of his life nor that of his death. 21. A sentence of 31 letters. 2, 26, 30, 20, a city standing on seven hills. 1, 6, 2, 9, 17, a city. 16, 7, 11, 6, 4, one of the patriarchs. 1, 14, 1, 24, an ecclesiastical title. 30, 29, 18, 31, a small coin. 8, 19, 23, 31, 27, another name for robber. 21, 22, 5, 3, 10, 20, a royal seat. 25, 6, 13, 15, 12, what no one does willingly. 28, 19, 3, 30, 6, 17, one of Christ's disciples. Memoirs. FRANK THACKERAY. ON Sunday, the 26th of September, 1875, we lost one of our best scholars from the Dewsbury Road Sunday School, Leeds. Frank Thackeray at the time of his death was in his sixteenth year. As a scholar and as a son he was an example, as well to some who were older as to those who were younger than himself. His conduct at home, in the Sunday school, and in the prayer-meeting evidenced a spirit of duteous and earnest piety. His teacher's testimony to his character and conduct is of the most commendatory kind. As a member of a select class he was always most attentive to the lessons, and evinced the deepest interest in religious truth, at the same time as he displayed the influence of that truth in his life. His earnestness of heart might be read in his face, and better still-it might be read in his conduct too. Frank was another added to the list of those who have felt alike the need and the preciousness of religion in the season of affliction. The trial through which God called him to pass was no ordinary one. It was one before which many a stout heart has quailed, which has blanched many a ruddy cheek with the paleness of fear. Consumption took hold of him. It is hard to be snatched from life in a moment, and to have our earthly course arrested by a single blow. Is it less hard to pass by a slow but sure decline to the grave? It is hard when death suddenly springs forth from some ambush in the pathway of life, and cuts us down by a stroke the force of which is only equalled by its suddenness. Is it less hard to see him, through a long perspective of weary months, approaching us slowly and with tardy steps, as though to taunt us with our fate? To see him thus and to know that the wealth of friends cannot purchase release from his power, or the tears of love awaken his compassion. To Frank he came indeed slowly. There were weary weeks, gradually lengthening into months of feebleness and debility. He could not follow his daily duties. Then, as he grew worse, the only exertion he was able to make was to take a short walk for exercise. Then he was compelled to keep within the house, and the door of his home was the bound of his liberty. Next came the morning when he could not leave his bed-room, and after a few weeks of alternate improvement and prostration that bedroom became his prison. But there was trouble upon trouble. The furnace of affliction was "heated hotter than it was wont to be heated." About this time his father died in the most sudden manner, and in the midst of his grief for this terrible loss he had the heart-rending prospect of leaving his mother, a poor widow, bereaved of her only son. But Christ was in his heart a mighty Saviour, and the heart which Christ in habits death cannot rive, even though he strike with double-strokes, Frank bore all with patience. He never murmured. His faith deepened, his hope brightened, his love strengthened. Ten weeks after he went from our midst. He went trusting, and happy because he trusted; loving and beloved of Jesus. One of our poets has said, "The paths of glory lead but to the grave." With him this truth was reversed, and the path of the grave led to glory. We know he has gone to heaven, and with God for our helper we intend to join him there. He's gone to be with Jesus, He's gone to be with Jesus, The tear is wiped away; He's gone to be with Jesus, And wear a crown above; To sweep the golden harpstrings there, He's gone to be with Jesus, And when our end shall come, Oh! may we all with him be found G. T. C. Low FELL, GATESHEAD.-The annual juvenile meeting was held on Sunday evening, Feb. 6, 1876. After singing and prayer the meeting was presided over by our esteemed friend, Mr. Councillor J. Lucas, who addressed himself more particularly to the younger portion of the audience. Very excellent and evangelistic addresses were also delivered by our two friends, Bros. J. Rippon and G. Huntley. Recitations were given by three of our scholars, Kate Liddell, Jane Graham, and Dorothy Liddell, and appropriate pieces were sung by the choir and children conjointly. Mr. George Barrak presided at the harmonium; so that through. out we had a very interesting and instructive meeting. We are sorry to have to report that our financial account this year is below last year's. The following is the result of our labours:-George Coulson, 2s. 3d.; Thomas Cooke, 1s. 4d.; Isabella Carr, 2s.; John Carr, 1s. 6d. ; Mary E. Harland, 8d.; Meggie Lamb, 1s. 5d.; Mary Carr, 3s. 1d.; Meggie Hindmarch, 9d.; Dorothy Liddell, 48.; Jane Graham, 4s. 6d. ; C. E. Turnbull, 4s. 6d. ; Collection, 14s.; Total, £2.-NICHOLAS CARR. THE CHINESE. BY REV. S. HULME. OUR HUNDRED MILLIONS of people live in China, which is about one-third as many as are now living on the whole earth. China is as old as Egypt, Babylon, and Assyria, the very oldest nations known to history, and of which we read in the Bible. The Chinese once possessed the knowledge of God, the Creator and Governor of the world, but they have fallen into idolatry. They have many large and splendid temples in which they worship idols made of wood, stone, and various kinds of metal. They also worship their dead fathers and mothers. The Chinese are naturally intelligent and quick-minded, and claim to have invented the mariner's compass, gunpowder, and printing before they were known in the western parts of the world in which we live. Such is their veneration for their ancestors that in business, agriculture, the structure of their houses, dress, domestic and social customs-indeed, in almost everything, they still do as they believe their parents have done before them during thousands of years. In England we are continually changing, because, for example, continual improvements are made in machinery by which more work can be done in less time and with less labour; but in China they regard it as a sacred duty to do things in the same slow and clumsy way they were done thousands of years ago. In their national pride-the pride of ignorance and superstition-they refuse to learn anything from other nations, and treat with scorn their ideas and customs. Other nations are "outside barbarians,” while they are the "Celestial Empire," dwelling in the "Flowery Land." But in China they have their own system of education, to which they attach great importance, and which the Government supports at great expense. Parents often make great sacrifices to give their sons a good education. The highest offices in the various departments off the State are open to the poorest child in the Empire, and many have thus risen from the humblest ranks to power, wealth, and honour. Since China has been drawn by commerce and Christianity into wider intercourse with Europe and America, her leading statesmen have seen that they are far behind us in many branches of our civilisation; hence they are sending a number of their youths to be educated in |