momentous to engage us from life's sunny spring till the chills of changing winter.

A reform must be effected. These evils must be brought to an end. The reformers are to be made out of our youth. Are we prepared to so devote our energies to their education, that theirs shall be the last generation that shall be drink cursed? On us, my brothers, depends what they shall be and what they shall do. We must prepare them as ground for the seed, the harvest of which will be joyfully reaped in "the good time coming." Shall the world be cleansed from the foul and odious disease of intemperance? Shall mankind bloom again in purity, innocence, and entire freedom from alcoholic slavery? Then this passing and this coming generation must combine to speak the omnipotent-Yes! Before the children can be made useful, they must be educated and qualified for usefulness. We must first teach them the philosophy and true purpose of life. In order to do this, each teacher of youth, whether in the school, the Band of Hope, or the pulpit, should "in all things show himself a pattern of good works, with uncorrupt doctrine, with gravity, and with integrity." The more wise the teachers become, the better are they able to teach the children knowledge. "The words of a wise man have grace. Before our children can be made useful, they must be duly instructed. Our Bands of Hope must be brought more under the influence of Christianity. Our teaching must be more replete and complete. Those children

are to be pitied who are taught nothing more than to sign the pledge, sing a few melodies, and give a few recitations. Such children cannot become as useful as they ought to be. To fit the children for usefulness, many of our Bands of Hope must be re-modelled, and our system of teaching amended. Our teaching must be made more after the model of "the

good old Book." How kindly and beautifully does the wise man talk to his son. Hear him, my brothers, and let us pattern after him: "Keep not company with drunkards, nor with gluttons; for the drunkard and the glutton shall be very poor, and shall be clothed in rags." "At all times let thy garments be white, and let thy head lack no grace. "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the instruction of thy mother; bind them always upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck; it shall lead thee when thou walkest, it shall watch for thee when thou sleepest, and when thou wakest it shall talk with thee; for the commandment is a lantern, and instruction a light, and corrections for instruction are the way of life." 66 'My son, let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them also on thy neck, and write them upon the table of thine heart, so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in sight of both God and

man-THEY SHALL INCREASE THE LENGTH OF THY DAYS, AND THE YEARS OF THY LIFE, AND THEY SHALL GIVE THEE PROSPERITY."

There, my friends, is a good example for us of what should be the beautiful and touching

style of our addresses. Imitate such, and we

shall soon see a race of men and women which will be "things of beauty," and "a joy for ever," -a grand race who will be majestic as cedars, flourishing as palms, and long-lived and noble as oaks; fragrant as roses, fruitful as vines, and useful, for the healing of the nations, as the balm of Gilead. They will then gain the respect and admiration of man and the blessing of God. Yes, from the excellent heavens, a loving voice shall be heard, "I WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAITH THE ALMIGHTY.

"My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the

sky,

So was it when my life began; so is it now I am a

man;

So be it when I shall grow old, or let me die!
The child is father to the man,

And I could wish my days to be,

Bound each to each by natural piety."

The season of youth is now too much looked upon as the season for pleasure, frivolity, and enjoyment only, whereas there is no other period in life so felicitous and favourable for doing good. If the beautiful spring-time be neglected, there is sad and sinful dearth; manhood and old age are always impoverished, and the man, too often, has to pass away "unfurnished for

the world to come."

The wise Dr. Southey used to say, "Live as long as you may, the first twenty years are the longest half of your life; they appear so while

they are passing; they seem to have been so when we look back to them; and they take up more room in our memory than all the years that succeed them." So I believe, and believing so impresses my mind the more with the solemn sacredness of our mission, to fit and qualify each child for usefulness. We must teach them to be WISE, and KIND, and coURTEOUS, and CHRISTIAN. We must ground them in saving-faith, and then progressively lead them on to virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. This teaching, by precept and practice, will thoroughly furnish them for every good word and work. The younger the persons are, and the more lovely they appear when engaged in good work. John was the youngest of the Apostles, and, certainly, he was also one of the most faithful, useful, and successful. To win the children to God, and to devoted usefulness, is like setting diamonds in borders of gold: THEN ARE THEY STRONG, AND THE WORD OF GOD ABIDETH IN THEM, AND THEY CAN OVERCOME THE WICKED ONE. This, my friends, and nothing less than this teaching, can essentially fit our children to be useful. There is a little Persian apologue, which expresses the influence of good teachers on their charge. "One day, as I was in the bath, a friend of mine put into my hand a piece of scented clay. I took it, and said to it, 'Art thou musk, or ambergris? for I am charmed with thy perfume.' It answered, I was a despicable piece of clay; but, as I was some time in the good company of the rose, the sweet quality of my

companion was communicated to me, otherwise, I should be only a piece of clay, as I appear to thee."" Make each child thus fragrant, then will they also be eminently fitted to be useful. We should strive to get each of our children to breathe the prayer of one of God's most devout and devoted servants. "Lord, let me not live to be useless." But

"Sum up at night what thou hast done by day,
And in the morning what thou hast to do.
Dress and undress thy soul: mark the decay
And growth of it: if with thy watch, that too
Be down, then wind both up; since we shall be
More surely judged, make thy accounts agree.

"In brief, acquit thee bravely: play the man ;
Look not on pleasures as they come, but go,
Defer not the last virtue-life's poor span,
Make not an hell by trifling in the woe.
If thou do ill the joy fades, not the pains
If well, the pain doth fade, the joy remains."

I will now specify how children, so trained and taught, may be made useful, and how they may help to make our Bands of Hope successful.

First, They may be made useful by inducing others to become sober. To get the children to become honorary missionaries, tends to strengthen their own resolves as well as resulting in other's good. I know this must be done with cautiousness and courtesy, or harm may be done instead of good. But the same may be said of adult missionary agency. Any how, get them to work and they will get more skilled by the every-day

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