JHIS number of the JUVENILE is printed so soon after the distribution of the last one, that it is not yet possible to tell how far the Guild is receiving attention and support. We would again, however, urge it on the notice of superintendents and teachers, and of all other readers of this magazine, whether scholars or not. We want more than approval of our objects: we want help in getting large numbers of members. Any one of our young folks, under the ages named last month, can become a member by sending full name, address, and month and year of birth, with two stamps, to the address given at the bottom, on which the numbered pledge-card will be posted. Teachers should send up the name of their Sunday-school, full name of each intending member, and the month and year of birth of each, together with a penny for each card wanted. If the number wanted exceed 12, it will be convenient if the payment be made by postal note, or order payable to the Editor at the Ludgate Circus Office, London, E.C.: and if it exceed 24, the cards will be sent post free to the address which may be given. We should like the cards, and also the prizes (which will not always be books), to be given out publicly in the schools, in order to encourage members and to induce others to join. If the number of cards wanted be less than 24, and if stamps for postage be not sent, the cards will be forwarded in the next magazine parcel. We would remind all readers that papers for the first competition must be received before the 10th of July, and that only members can compete. The full conditions were printed last month.

Our Rules (see the May JUVENILE) show that the Guild will not enter into rivalry with any existing institution. We want our members to do their best to get others to join, and our friends to encourage members to write to the Guild, to compete for the prizes, to tell us about their pets, and to send anecdotes which they know to be true.

"Now who will stand on either hand And keep the bridge with me?"

Happily, kindness is gaining ground very fast. So rapid has been the gain that it seems strange that bull-baiting only ceased to be lawful in 1835, less than fifty years ago! Can any correspondent tell us about the bull-baitings which took place, a little before that time, where the Burslem (Staffordshire) market-hall now stands?

On Cornish farms, each Shrove Tuesday many

years ago, any hen which had not laid eggs before that day was beaten to death with a flail on the barn floor, the man who killed it getting the body for his trouble. Can any friend in Cornwall tell tell us how long this cruel custom has ceased to be?

Pigeon-shooting is the only one of these barbarities which is still carried on openly, and that we shall soon find done away with. But there is an untold amount of misery in the animal world about us which is caused by mere heedlessness. Children have pets given to them-a good thing if they be taught how to tend the pets, and if neglect be not permitted. But what unhappy lives those pets often have! For a few days or weeks they are nearly killed by ignorant kindness, by over-feeding, want of exercise, or foolish fondling. Then the first zeal is lost, the bird goes without water, the rabbit-hutch is left uncleaned, or the children go away, leaving their pets to the care of servants, and find them dead of neglect when they return. Kittens in large ill-trained families are in especial to be pitied. The recitation given below tells the story of such an unfortunate, condemned to "please the baby." Spoiled pets are as great a misery to themselves and all about them as are spoiled children. Love without knowledge is often cruel as hate.

We hope to prevent some of this misery, and to help to ennoble the future lives of our members by training them in gentleness. We all need to be taught that when, for our own pleasure, we deprive an animal of its freedom and of power to feed itself, we are bound to care for its welfare. Kindness should be made as much a matter of habit as honesty. We hope to give some details in future numbers as to the treatment of various pets, as to the choice of pets (showing the cruelty of caging such birds as the lark and nightingale); and as to many like points.

Last month we referred to a suggestion that Band of Hope officials might, in many places, be willing to devote some of their addresses and parts of their meetings to the objects of our Guild. Suitable pieces for recitation we hope to print in the JUVENILE from time to time, and shall be glad to be furnished with a copy of any such pieces, together with information as to their source. More than sixty suitable songs have been published very cheaply, on leaflets and in more substantial forms, and may be procured through the Book-room. We hope, however, to arrange that this subject may be introduced at the great Conference Band of Hope meeting, and postpone any further suggestion in this direction

until after that meeting. We will only give extracts from two letters received on the subject. The first writer, after promising thirty members, continues:

"It does seem to me that where Band of Hope meetings are held very frequently, you can't always be exclusively harping on the Temperance string without loss of interest sooner or later, and to extend the range of subjects dealt with, as proposed in connexion with the Guild, would be an advantage. A short lecture might be given now and then on the habits of animals or treatment of pets, with recitations by members on kindred subjects. At some places they might be able to have, in time, a little exhibition of pets (dogs, birds, &c.), actually kept by the young folks, with prizes to reward kindness and careful attention."

In some of our Sunday-schools there are already annual "Industrial Exhibitions." Could not the suggested exhibition be united with these? The matter is worthy of careful consideration.

The second extract runs as follows: "The mention of the Guild of Kindness at our Band of Hope evoked some amusing discussion amongst the brighter of our members. The point at issue was the destruction of kittens, some of the boys having been charged by maternal authority with this undesirable work. But it only added zest to our meeting, and at least forty out of the fifty children present promised to become members. The Guild' will soon be appreciated by Band of Hope leaders, as enlarging the area of their instructions, and if kind hearts are more than coronets' it will become a great blessing to all concerned."

Here is the piece already mentioned. Can any correspondent in the Potteries tell us the name of its author? It was recited at a Band of Hope meeting in that district about three years ago. "I am a kitten, just six months old, A regular beauty I've often been told; You may search all the country around But a finer kitten will not be found. And though it is true, as poets sing, That beauty is not the principal thing, It surely is nothing more than right To be glad one wasn't born a fright.

I think I must have had a mother,

But before I could tell one paw from the other
Somebody took me out of the hay,
Carried me miles and miles away;
Saying coolly, 'I thought that maybe

You would like a kitten to please the baby.'
'To please the baby!' just think of that!
What a horrible fate for a cat!

Mean little thing-what his mother can see
Lovely in him is a wonder to me!

He jerked at my whiskers, he pulled at my hair,
He clutched at my throat till I gasped in despair;
He poked his fat fingers right into my eyes,
And laughed with delight at my pitiful cries.
Once, when he pulled me about by my tail,
And nobody came at my sorrowful wail,
I gave him a scratch on his face so red;
And what do you think his mother said?
Beat me, and called me an ugly old cat!
Called him her lamb, and such nonsense as that!
Now I should really like to know

If there's any reason that you can show,
Why a baby that can only creep and cry
Has a better right in the world than I!
I've made up my mind, and the case is clear,
That if somebody does not interfere
And take me away from that troublesome child,
Its cruel tortures will drive me wild.
Somebody, surely, will find me lying,
One of these mornings, dead or dying!"

Is not that a pretty piece for a little girl to recite ?

We had got a number of true anecdotes to tell, showing how intelligent an animal generally thought very stupid may be found when kindly treated, but we have had so much to say about other things that these must be laid aside for the present.

Members will find as the motto on their cards part of a line from Chaucer: "He is gentle that doth gentle deeds." It is printed there to remind them that without true kindliness they cannot be gentlemen or gentlewomen. Gentleness is, properly speaking, the conduct of a gentleman. This is how Spenser expands the same line:

"True is that whilome that good poet said,
The gentle mind by gentle deeds is known;
For a man by nothing is so well bewray'd
As by his manners: in which plain is shown
Of what degree and what race he is grown."

As we hope that all our members will grow up noble men and women, we call our record of their names the Golden Book, because that was the name given to the famous register of the Venetian nobility. We wish it to be an honour to be inscribed in our book, as it was in the ancient

one.

Our society is called by the name of "Guild," because it is a body of people who have all paid a "guild" or fee (only a penny in our case!), and are all working together for one great object. Do not forget that the first series of anecdotes will be about

THE CAT,

and that we want all our friends to send us up

FRED. You seem to be having an earnest conversation; what is it all about?

ERNEST. Well, Fred, we have only just met, but so far our conversation has been earnest; and I hope it will be more so, as we are going to talk about our Foreign Missions. But, as you know, I am always earnest.

FRANK. Yes, and I am always frank; so I think we may as well let our friends know our object in thus meeting. I suppose we are met not only to converse about our Foreign Missions, as you say, but to open the hearts and the pockets of our friends?

CHARLES. That seems to be a strange thing to do, especially to open the pockets. However do you mean to accomplish that object?

FRED. I should think he intends doing it, first, by appealing to the heart, so that the friends will open their own pockets; for, after hearing the report which has been presented, I am convinced that the cause of missions claims our attention and support.

ERNEST. As you have mentioned the report, I think I ought to say that I was very pleased with it. I am sure it is very encouraging, especially with regard to our missions in China.

FRANK. I think so too. But one is apt, at

first, to think that the figures look rather small, considering the number of years the mission has been in operation; but then we have to look at the difficulties with which our missionaries have to contend.

CHARLES. I should think their difficulties must be very great; one especially being the peculiarity of the language, for I don't know of a more curious one; it must take a great deal learning-I think it would take me many years.

FRED. Yes, and I should think another great difficulty is the superstition and idolatry of the people, for we are told they are steeped in idolatry of the most cruel description, subjecting themselves to torture; and not only will men and women torture themselves, but also cruelly illtreat their children, even innocent little babes, sacrificing them to their gods.

ERNEST. I am glad you have brought forward these difficulties, for, as Frank says, the figures really do not look large, considering the immense population of the country; but another difficulty is also present, namely, the introducing of what is to the Chinese an entirely new and, in many cases, an unheard-of religion. Let us, for a moment, try to suppose that we and all the English people are idolaters; that we have been brought up to worship and bow down to blocks of wood and stone, and that a foreigner comes to tell us in broken English of a God that cannot be seen, of a God that we have never heard of, and that He had an only Son, whom He gave to die a cruel death to save the world from sin and its consequences. We should imagine this man would have to talk a long time before he got many hearers, and especially many converts to his doctrine. This is the case with the Chinese with regard to the religion these Englishmen, our missionaries, are trying to lead the people to believe in.

FRANK. Yes, Ernest, I believe what you say is quite true, and when we look at the facts of the case as you have presented them to us, cne is

led to wonder there have been so many converts as there are; and, the best of it is, many of them are being trained for the ministry, and already several are labouring as missionaries. There are a large number of local preachers; so, if the work continues to progress, it will not be long before vast results shall be achieved, for the more labourers there are in the vineyard the more fruit should be seen; and if the missionaries and all the native preachers and teachers work earnestly and prayerfully, doing all in their power to lead souls to Christ, and to instil the doctrines of Christianity into the minds of the people, we shall soon have yet more glowing accounts of the work which is being accomplished. What think you, Charles?

CHARLES. I am of the same opinion. The Lord is sure to reward the self-sacrificing and persevering labours of those who leave their own land and friends for the promotion of Christianity, and the bringing about of that great day when "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ." I have been thinking of the parable taught by our Saviour of the grain of mustard seed, which shows us what great things are brought about from small beginnings. The work may be gradual, but it is sure. The seed which has been sown is already bringing forth fruit, some of which the Lord has gathered into His kingdom, for triumphant deaths are annually reported as having taken place amongst our members in China. We learn that at one of the stations nearly all the converts are soldiers, which the missionaries at first felt disposed to regret, owing to the uncertainty of their staying in that district; yet, as the missionary says, if those converts prove faithful to their high calling, they will be witnesses for Christ wherever they may be. Thus the work will spread.

FRED. I think another and very important matter should not be overlooked-that is, the work which is being carried on amongst the

young people in the various schools of the mission. The results have so far been satisfactory, and greater results may yet be expected from that source. The Medical Mission is also a very important feature of the work; thousands of cases have been treated, thus bringing the people into closer contact with the missionaries, by which means they have the gospel preached to them. The Australian mission also claims the attention and support of our friends. The work is encouraging, as it is being prospered greatly of God; but much is still needed to be done. I am pleased we have such a missionary cause, for there is room for all this work and much more; and the heart of every Christian ought to be stirred at the thought of the thousands who are dying annually, passing away in heathen darkness and superstition, knowing little or nothing of the love of Christ and of the glorious heaven He has prepared for those that love Him.

ERNEST. I am very glad you have all spoken so well on the subject, and I hope our friends have been interested, and have got their hearts open.

FRANK. And their pockets as well; or, at least, I hope they soon will have, for what is needed is practical sympathy.

CHARLES. I quite agree with you; but I cannot think our friends will keep their pockets closed after what has been said. I know that times are bad, but giving to the Lord is a safe investment.

FRED. I hope our friends will also remember that not only is money needed for this work, but also prayer, the prayer of the Church, and the prayer of every individual member, that

Soon the glorious light may shine
On every heathen heart and mind;
The light of life, and love divine;
The love of Christ to all mankind.
JOHN H. CLARK.

HIT-SUNDAY is the Church's birthday, the day on which the Holy Spirit was given to the Church in fulfilment of the Saviour's promise. But this day was a holiday, or holyday, long before then. By the Jews it was called Pentecost, which means the fiftieth, or a fiftieth. We call the day Whit-Sunday, which looks like White-Sunday. That many readers may better know the full meaning of the words Pentecost and Whit-Sunday, I will tell a story of a supposed person, whom we will call Ben-Ezra,

who might have lived during part of Christ's life, and a number of years after.

Ben-Ezra was born in Jerusalem at the time Jesus was working for His father in the carpenter's shop at Nazareth. The boy's father was a priest, and performed various duties in the Temple. He had been in the choir, and was still very fond of singing. When Ben-Ezra's father found out that his little boy had a soft, round, sweet, musical voice, he began to train him for the choir. So when the boy was about

ten years of age, he became a singer in the Temple. In the choir were a number of boys, and they stood just below their fathers, and improved the melody of the hymns by their rich treble voices.

About two years after Ben-Ezra entered the choir, the Sabbath immediately before the great feast, the Paschal Feast, his father told him that the Prophet of Galilee, Jesus of Nazareth, was coming up to the Holy City. Reports said He was already at Bethany, a village only two miles from Jerusalem. Ben-Ezra thought he should like to see this strange man once again; he had seen Him several times before in the city, and he was quite in love with the Prophet's face -it was very beautiful, although very sad. Besides, some of the boys in the choir said how kind and good Jesus was, especially to children. That night Ben-Ezra dreamed that the Prophet came to his father's house, and although his father was very angry with him, Jesus looked exceedingly kind. Ben-Ezra's father, like all the rest of the priests, hated Jesus.

The next morning Ben-Ezra went to the Temple with his father, and before long he heard such a noise outside in the streets; people were cheering, and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." Very soon one of the choir boys came up to Ben-Ezra, quite excited, saying: "Jesus is coming into the Temple!

'Now," he thought, "I shall see Him again." He did see Him again, and so overjoyed was he, that he began shouting as he had heard others. Then the other boys in the choir joined him, and they all cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David." Ben-Ezra's father and the other priests were very displeased, and some asked Jesus why He did not rebuke the boys. He at once answered with a smile, "Have ye never read, 'Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise?'" So Jesus was not displeased with the boys' song.

The following Friday Ben-Ezra saw that same Jesus taken, and by wicked hands crucified. How his little heart ached! Although he did not know much about Jesus, yet he felt he loved Him, because of His love to children. During the afternoon it suddenly went very dark, and remained so for three hours. Ben-Ezra's mother had to light the lamp. Then the ground seemed to shake, and the little choir-boy was very much afraid; he was sure it was all because the priests had put the good man, the Prophet, to death. When his father came home from the Temple he looked very troubled, and he told them all how that when he was in the Holy Place, officiating in his course, he saw the veil torn from top to bottom without any hands. That night they all ate their evening meal with

sad hearts; they felt as though something terrible was going to happen.

During the next seven weeks Ben-Ezra's time was fully occupied with special work at the Temple. Those seven weeks were a holy festival. "To-morrow," said the boy's father to him on the forty-ninth day after the Paschal Feast, "tomorrow is the Pentecost, the fiftieth day, the feast of harvest." That afternoon the streets became very busy, large crowds coming in from all parts of the country, and other countries too. It was a glorious day, the sun shone splendidly upon the Holy City.

Ben-Ezra did not go to bed at all that night. When the stars came out in the deep blue sky, and shone as we never see them shine in England, deep blasts of the trumpets, sounded by the priests, were heard all over the city. These announced the coming feast. At midnight the gates of the Temple were thrown wide open; and up to the time when the first streaks of light appeared, men were driving in their lambs and kids of goats for sacrifice, and bringing their different offerings. All this was a very solemn sight to Ben-Ezra. He wondered how it was so many poor lambs should be slain and burnt.

Presently the signal for morning sacrifice was given. When this was over, and other sacrifices, Ben-Ezra and the rest of the choir began to sing. They chanted several of the Psalms, being accompanied by a single flute. And now came the special offering of the day. It consisted of two loaves made from the very first ripe wheat, grown in the best district of the country, and certain accompanying sacrifices. When BenEzra first asked his father what the loves meant, he told him that they were than kofferings to God for the harvest.

That morning, about nine o'clock, as the Jewish boy was returning home from the Temple, he saw great crowds of people in the streets listening to some men preaching. He stopped to hear them. Presently he found they were talking about Jesus. Then he listened attentively, for he was anxious to learn what had become of Him, as one of the choir-boys said He had been seen alive. Soon he learned that He had gone to heaven.

"Then," he thought, "I shall see Him again some time, for I am going to heaven," and this thought made his heart glad.

Now when Ben-Ezra became a man he remembered the things which he had seen in his youth; and, learning more about Jesus, he left his work in the Temple, and went and preached in far-off countries what he knew about Him whom the priests crucified. It was well for him he left Jerusalem, for before long the city was besieged, and the Temple was destroyed by fire. He lived to be a very old man, but still continued to preach