66

after which all join together in repeating the Lord's Prayer; and after the National Anthem has been played by the band they get the order to "dismiss." As illustrating the intense interest the boys take in the work, I may state that out of an enrolled strength of fifty-six we have an average attendance of fifty-three every Thursday evening; and always a satisfactory reason for any boy being absent, to see to which is the work of the noncommissioned officers, each of whom has his own squad" to look after. We have lately, at the desire of the boys themselves, formed a Bible class for the members of the Brigade, which they attend at 9.30 on Sabbath mornings, in a way that they would never have done but for the fact that it is connected with the Brigade. The effect upon the boys seems to us to be good in every way. The mere drill itself does them an immense amount of good, in forming in them habits of obedience and discipline at the most impressionable period of their lives, not to speak of the physical setting up it gives them. As members of the Brigade the boys are banded together as being on the side of Jesus Christ, and encouraged in every way to take their stand on His side. An esprit de corps is created, which a boy readily imbibes; and, added to this, one can hardly speak to these boys without having endless illustrations suggested by the very nature of the organization,-illustrations that appeal to the healthy side of a boy's nature in a way that almost nothing else will do.

The idea has met with so much approval from gentlemen connected with other Sabbath schools who have paid us a visit, that several other companies of the same sort have been, and are about to be, instituted. Believing that much might be gained in the way of mutual help and encouragement by forming themselves into an association, those of us who are interested in the work met together on the 26th of January, constituted ourselves into the "Council of the Boys' Brigade," and adopted the following

CONSTITUTION.

(Adopted at meeting of Council held on 26th January, 1885.)

1. This organization shall be called "The Boys' Brigade."

2. The object of the Brigade shall be the advancement of Christ's kingdom among boys, and the promotion of habits of reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness.

3. All boys between the ages of 12 and 17 will be eligible for members of the Brigade; and in applying for their membership cards they shall fill up a form of application, agreeing to comply with the rules of the Brigade, and expressing a desire to be true to Christ in their lives and to help other boys to be so.

4. The Brigade shall be composed of companies, which shall be designated by the town to which they belong, and numbered according to the date of their formation.

5. The Brigade shall be under the management of a council composed of all the officers, the senior officer of the Brigade to be convener. One-fourth of the officers on the roll shall form a quorum.

6. The Brigade shall be officered by gentlemen, whose appointment shall be approved of by the council, in the proportion of one officer to about twenty boys. Each company shall be commanded by a captain, whose junior officers shall be

lieutenants.

7. The captain of each company shall appoint non-commissioned officers, by promotion from the ranks, in the proportion of one sergeant, one corporal, and one lance-corporal to about every twenty boys.

8. Strict discipline shall be enforced; and all members must submit to the authority of the officers and non-commissioned officers placed over them.

9. This constitution shall not be altered except by a majority consisting of twothirds of the number present at a duly called meeting of council; and notice of any proposed alteration must be sent to each member of council at least one week previously.

The scope suggested by the constitution may seem somewhat ambitious, but we are so satisfied of the good results to be attained-physically, morally, and religiously-by such organizations that we feel confident many others will see their way to follow our example. The companies now in operation are:-1st Glasgow Company, connected with the Free College Church Mission, under my own charge, assisted by Mr. J. R. Hill and Mr. J. B. Hill; 2nd Glasgow Company, connected with Berkeley Street U. P. Church Mission, under the charge of Mr. J. S. Couper, assisted by Mr. R. A. Hannah and Mr. J. B. Couper; and 3rd Glasgow Company, in connection with Adelaide Place Baptist Church Mission, under the charge of Mr. J. C. Robertson, assisted by Mr. E. W. Hamlen, and others; while other companies are in process of formation. The council will be pleased to know of any schools that may think of raising similar companies from among their boys, and will be glad to give them all the assistance and information in their power. The idea can be applied to any Sabbath school with an ordinary sized hall, if some gentleman, capable of giving the necessary instruction, is willing to go heartily into the work. As the work of a first session must of necessity be little more than to lay a foundation to be built upon in subsequent years, there should be nothing to prevent schools utilizing what remains of the present winter for this purpose. In country districts the drill might be done in summer, and interesting and instructive meetings of various kinds held during the winter. That such work is urgently needed among boys of 12 to 17 years of age, there can be no question, as these are the very years during which habits are formed that will give a tone to a boy's whole future life.

A Dossers' Meeting.

LAST month we described some of the efforts that are being made to rescue the perishing "street children," so numerous in Glasgow. In a quiet effective way, and for several years now, a devoted band have been toiling on, we might almost say both day and night, for the elevation of the most degraded of our population. The work is conducted generally under the auspices of the Evangelistic Association, but several of the branches are wrought conjointly by a committee of the Sabbath School Union and the Foundry Boys Religious Society. In the Association's monthly Bulletin we find the following account of a meeting held lately. It will interest Christian friends at a distance who may not be able conveniently to look in at the hall, where they could see for themselves the various operations carried on :

Doubtless many of our readers will be at a loss to understand what is meant by a "dossers"" meeting, but if they had been present in the Small Hall in James Morrison Street on the evening of Monday, the 9th Feb., when about 70 "dossers" were assembled at tea, and marked the smile on the faces of the lads as they were addressed by this title, they would have seen that the sobriquet was well known to the audience. We may explain that our city arabs who have left settled home-life and sleep at night on stairs or at brick kilns, or wherever else they can, are known to each other as "dossers;" and the meeting referred to was held with the view to reclaim as many as could be got to attend.

For a fortnight previously a few of the breakfast and dinner workers had scoured the streets in the centre of the city, and other haunts of the "dossers," till the early hours of the morning, giving an invitation card to tea in James Morrison Street Hall to such lads as they fell in with wandering on the streets, or lying in closes or on stairs. To the great satisfaction of the workers (for the dossers, being in a state of chronic warfare with the constituted authorities, are chary of giving their confidence to any whom they do not believe to be friends), not fewer than about seventy made their appearance, a motley company of tattered, begrimed, woe-begone lads, from about 8 to 18 years of age. After blessing was asked, a good tea was served out by the workers, whose kindness and attention, in giving every one as much as he could eat and drink, gradually gained their confidence and put them at their ease. Tea over, hymns were sung, prayer engaged in, and the parable of the prodigal son read; and then a few kindly encouraging words were spoken by Mr. MacKeith preparatory to the workers gathering from each dosser such parts of his story as he could be induced to tell. Many, probably most of them, were ready to give a frank recital, but others were already adepts at deceiving, and their story could not be relied on. A party of three or four, on being asked where they had passed the previous night, replied that they had been in the Police Office (doubtless for vagrancy), but had been permitted to leave on shewing their invitation cards for James Morrison Street Hall. A poor lad with symptoms of incipient consumption told how he had offended his father some six weeks previously, and had been indebted to neighbours for shelter or such pittance as enabled him to get an occasional bed in a model lodging-house, but would be glad if intercession could be made for his being received home. Many such sad records were taken; and after more than an hour had been spent in getting all possible information, Mr. John Steel addressed a few earnest words to them, and the meeting closed after 10 p.m. by singing "There is a happy land," which seemed to be familiar to all of them, and was eagerly joined in. Each lad received a pie as he left, and was invited to return to the Friday night enquiry meetings. It was sad to hear some reply, on being asked if they were going home, "We've nae hame to gang to." Some few were seen to their parents' homes by workers, some were able to go to lodgings, but many would go back to their haunt on some stair or close. One poor fellow was seized with an epileptic fit in the meeting, and after being carefully tended by the workers, was taken to the poorhouse, which would be to him a much-needed place of shelter. The Enquiry Committee hope to have many cases to follow up from this meeting.

Sweetness of Spirit.

THERE are some Christians who somehow carry the charm of an attractive atmosphere with them. It is a pleasure just to look at them. Even when one differs in judgment from them as far as the poles are asunder, one is none the less drawn and fascinated by them. There is such sweetness in their spirit, such gracious gentleness in their manner, such kind catholicity, such manly frankness, such thorough self-respect on one hand, and on the other hand such perfect regard for the judgment of others, hat one cannot help loving them, however conscience may compel conclusions on matters of mutual consequence unlike those which they have reached. Those are not weak men, either. What people like in them is not that, with the everlasting unvaryingness of a mirror, they reflect back the thought which is presented to them, and so are always at an agreement with others. Sometimes one is even more drawn to them when they are in opposition, because they are so true and just that their respect carries with it all the refreshment of variety with none of the friction of hostility. Natural temper has something to do with this.. God gives a great gift to a man when He gives him a sunny disposition, a candid spirit, and the instinct of fairness in a controversy. It is exceedingly hard for some men to be just. They are jealous, suspicious, and morose in their natural bent. It is hard for them to believe good of others. It is easy for them always to put the worst construction upon matters. It sometimes seems as if it were almost more than grace can do to transform their tempers so that they will be just toward any man against whom they have been led to have a prejudice.

Fragments.

THE QUALIFIED TEACHER.-It is often the case that more depends upon the workman than upon the material which he has to work with. A skilful workman will carve a shape of beauty out of hard stone more easily than a bungler will mould the same figure in clay. Given a piece of iron-it all depends on whose hand works upon it, whether it will become a shapely tool or a shapeless bit of rubbish. Christian teachers rarely have the choice of the material upon which they are to work; and the worse that material is, the more necessary is that work. Paul did not advise Timothy to pick out the men whom it would be most pleasant to teach, but he did say to him: "Take heed to thyself and to thy teaching."

And Paul's advice may be recommended to those teachers who lay the blame of their ill-success upon the material with which they work, without inquiring how much the workman is to blame. "Take heed to thyself" to your spirit—and to your teaching, for there, perhaps, is where all the trouble lies.-American S. S. Times.

DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.-The Sabbath school teacher is a diamond cutting diamonds. His labour must be slow and patient; but it is expended upon the one thing worthy of it, and will be justified by the result. Nothing depends upon the size of the cutting implement, but everything upon its genuineness. A tiny diamond may perfect the wonderful Koh-i-noor. So true-hearted Chris

tians sometimes serve the Master dowed for higher places than their by fitting others more richly en- own.

Notices of Books.