THE POWER OF PRAYER.

Ir has been said that prayer is the key to heaven. This is true; for the fervent prayer of a righ teous man availeth much. How many Christians are there in the world who, when surrounded by the many trials and temptations of this life-when it seemed as if all earthly friends had failed-have gone to the throne of grace, and poured forth their sorrows and trials to the blessed Saviour, and while struggling with God in their closet have had the Spirit descend upon them, and have felt that their prayers were answered, and that they could meet their troubles with a calm smiling face, knowing that God was doing that which seemed best to Him for their good! How much better Christians would we be, if we trusted more in the power of prayer! Are you in trouble? Do your feet grow weary at times, or are the cares of life pressing around you many sorrows and trials? If so, go to your closet, and on your bended knees pour out your troubles to God in prayer; tell Him all the burden on your heart, and believe He will descend and meet you, and will bless you; and as you rise to your feet you will be able and ready to meet your troubles and trials, and will feel, of a truth, that there is " power in prayer."

SEA-DUST.

To those who are unacquainted with the sea and the marvels which belong to it, it may sound like one of Baron Munchausen's tales, but it is, nevertheless, true, that ships at a distance of many hundreds of miles from any land have been met by many heavy showers of fine dry dust, and by thick yellow fogs, not unlike London November fogs, except that they are free from suffocating smell, which turn out to be nothing more than this finely

divided powder suspended in the air, and waiting for a favorable opportunity to descend. The reddish-yellow fogs are commonly encountered in the neighbourhood of the Cape de Verd Islands; the dust has also been seen, though less frequently, in the Mediterranean, on the North African and South European coasts, and even far away in the middle of the Atlantic. The dust has been known to strew the shores of southeastern France, and the whole line of the west Italian coast, at the same time that it fell all over the islands of Sardinia and Malta. Sometimes the fall is so heavy as to cover the sails and decks of vessels, and to give the sea an appearance similar to that presented by a pond adjacent to a dusty road. The powder is exceedingly finealmost impalpable. Its color is brick-red or bright yellow, and becomes of a lighter shade after being kept for some years. In the Mediterranean the dust is known as Sirocco or African dust, because it was supposed to come from some of the desert land of the African continent. But it was only supposed so to come; nothing was really known of its history or its home. It was considered to be in some way or other connected with barren and dry land-most probably African-and in its wide wanderings over many degrees of latitude it was identified with the listeth," and concerning which no wind which "bloweth where it man knoweth "whence it cometh or whither it goeth." In the absence of knowledge, or of that scientific presumption which is akin to it, speculation was rife as to the origin and travelling power of this dust.

THE WORD NOT VOID,

My first sermon, (said a pastor,) what a vivid recollection I have of of it! A ministerial acquaint

ence, who was to spend the Sabbath from home, had invited me to go with him. On arriving, he said: "I shall depend on you to preach half the day.'

The afternoon was left for me. There was a heavy rain, and few ventured out, for which I felt more and more thankful as the service advanced. My discourse, partly written and partly extempore, sounded to my own ears like the "foolishness of preaching" indeed.

Some years afterward, while settled over a congregation in a distant part of the county, an acute bilious attack laid me by for a few weeks from the labours of the pastorate. One day while lying dejected on the sick-bed, a stranger visited me. He was also a pastor, residing some twelve miles away. After some pleasant preliminary words, he said,

"I have come on an errand to you. It is a message intrusted to me by a dying woman. Do you remember spending a Sabbath in H- -some years ago, in company with the Rev. Mr. F. -p"

"I do," said I, while a quick flush passed over my face.

"Do you recollect what a great rain there was, and how thin the attendance ?"

"I could not forget it, if I would."

"Well," said he, "I was pastor of that church then: we did not meet, however. Two years after you were there, I was sent for to converse with a lady about to die. She was ready for the messenger. 'But,' said she, 'I have a special request to make of you;' then referring to your sermon, at that time, as being wonderfully blessed to her, she added, 'I fear he went away discouraged; and I want you to tell him how God sent home that discourse to my soul, that he may know that his labour was not in vain in the Lord.' And," continued my thoughtful caller, "hearing you were sick, and fearing you might

feel low-spirited in being unable to discharge your accustomed duties, I felt it my duty to ride over and deliver my message now, hoping it would cheer you in your afflic tion."

"My word shall not return to Me void," says Jehovah. Toil on with courage, all you who cultivate the harvest-field of the Gospel here. In a world of clearer light you shall reap in joy.

EFFECT OF MUSIC ON THE SICK. THE effect of music upon the sick has been scarcely noticed. In fact, its expensiveness, as it is now, makes any general application of it out of the question. I will only remark here-that wind instruments,

including the human voice, and stringed instruments capable of continuous sound, have, generally, a beneficial effect; while the pianoforte, and such instruments as have no continuity of sound, have just the reverse. The finest pianoforte playing will damage the sick, while an air like "Home Sweet Home," or, Assisa a pie d'un salice," on a most ordinary grinding and this quite independent of organ, will sensibly soothe them,

association.

WORRIED PEOPLE.

THERE are people in whose houses you cannot go without being sickened by the long catalogue of all their slights and worries. It is a wretched and contemptible thing to be always hawking about one's griefs, in the hope of exciting commiseration. Let people be assured that their best friends will grow wearied of hearing of their worries; let people be assured that the pity which is accorded them will be in most cases mingled with something of contempt. There are men and women who have a wonderful scent for grievances. If you are showing them your garden, and there be one untidy corner, they will go straight to that, and point it out with mournful elation, and forget all the rest of the trim expanse. If there

be one mortifying circumstance in an otherwise successful and happy lot, they will be always reminding you of that. You write a book; twenty favourable reviews of it appear, and two unfavourable; Mr. Snarling arrives after breakfast, sure as fate, with the two unfavourable reviews in his pocket. You are cheerful and content with your lot and your houses; Mr. Snarling never misses an opportunity of pointing out to you the dulness of your situation, the inconvenience of your dwelling, the inferiority of the place you hold in life to what you might a priori have anticipated. You are quite lighthearted when Mr. Snarling enters; but when he goes you cannot help feeling a good deal depressed. The blackest side of things has been pressed on your notice during his stay. I do not think this is entirely the result of malice. It is ignorance of the right way to face little worries. The man has got a habit of looking only at the dunghill. Would that he could learn better

sense.

ANTICIPATED SEPARATION, ONE of the most trying anticipations with regard to death, in the minds of many, long before the event arrives, is separation from those whom they love. And yet there is probably nothing in human experience more remarkable than the resignation and cheerfulness with which some, who have had everything to make life desirable, have left all and followed Christ, when he came to lead them through the

valley. The young wife and mother, in her dying hours, becomes the comforter of her husband; she turns and looks at the infant who is held up to receive her farewell, and the mother alone is calm, sheds no tears, gives the farewell kiss with composure. Thy rod" is supporting her. "Thy staff" is keeping at bay the passions and fears of the natural heart. So a widowed mother leaves a large family of young children, with a peace which surpasses all understanding. And the father of a dependent family, which never could, in a greater measure, need a father's presence, looks upon them from his dying bed, and says to them, with the serenity of a patriarch, "Behold, I die; but God shall be with you." Nothing is more true than this, that dying grace is for a dying hour; that is, we cannot, in health and strength, have the feelings which belong to the hour of parting; but as any and every scene and condition into which God brings his children, has its peculiar frames of mind fitted for the necessity of each case, we need not make the useless effort to practise all the resignation, and experience all the comforts, which come only when they are actually needed. We do not often hear the first part of the following passage quoted: but in such rocky and thorny paths as we are often made to pass through, how good it is to read, "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be."

PRAYER FOR THE SUCCESS OF OUR MISSIONS.

THE following letter and resolution have been sent to all our Superintendent Preachers. We trust that great good will result therefrom.

"14, Heywood Street, Cheetham, "Manchester, Aug. 29th, 1864. "MY DEAR BROTHER,

"The following Resolution was passed unanimously by the Foreign

Missionary Committee, held in June last, and adopted by the Annual Assembly. Allow me to call your special attention to the matter, and to ask your cordial and hearty co-operation in giving it practical effect in your Cir cuit. It would be well to seek the aid of your Leaders', or Quarterly, Meeting, so that every chapel and preaching-place on your plan may be supplied with the necessary notice and information to

guide them on the appointed day. It might be well to have the resolution read from your pulpits on one or two Sundays previously to the day set apart for prayer. May the great Head of the Church vouchsafe us His blessing, and richly pour upon all our Mission stations the healthful spirit of His grace. "I am, my dear Brother, "Yours sincerely,

"SAMUEL S. BARTON, "Miss. Sec."

DAY OF PRAYER ON BEHALF OF OUR FOREIGN MISSIONS.

"A letter was read from the brethren in East Africa, requesting the churches in this country to present special prayer on behalf of that Mission, on WhitSunday last, but having arrived too late to be carried out according to their request, it was resolved—

"That the second Sunday in October (the 9th), be set apart in all our churches, to seek the outpouring of the Spirit upon our East African and other Foreign Missions, and that our Churches be earnestly requested to make arrangements for carrying out the wishes of the brethren, and that the preachers, in their discourses, direct special attention to the subject.'

CLECKHEATON CIRCUIT.

BRIGHOUSE.

A BRANCH Sunday-school and preach. ing room has lately been established in connection with this society, at Hove. Edge, a small village about a mile distant, under the following circumstances:-The school at Brighouse becoming inconveniently crowded, it was evident that it must either be enlarged or some means devised to draft off the increasing numbers. It was found that about fifty to sixty came from the above neighbourhood, and as there was no institution there of the kind, it was considered to be a favourable opening. A site was at once secured, and the foundation stone of the new building was laid on WhitTuesday, 1863. It was completed, and opened by several religious services in November following.

On Sunday last, August 7th, the first anniversary took place, when two open-air services were conducted by

the Rev. D. W. Pennell, Circuit Minister; the collections amounted to £14 23. 2d. The school will seat about 200, and is, in point of architecture, an ornament to the village; the number of scholars is augmented to over 100. About £200 has been subscribed towards the cost of the erection, and it is expected that the remainder, about £50, will be cleared off in another year. The friends have great cause for thankfulness to Almighty God for his blessing upon their labours, and feel greatly encouraged in the hope that this school will prove a permanent blessing to the inhabitants of the village.

GOOLE, YORKSHIRE.
OPENING OF A NEW CHAPEL

Friday, July 29th, was a memorable day in the history of Free Church Methodism in Goole. The Society begun about eleven years ago with seven members, who worshipped in a large room. In 1855, a New Chapel was built to accommodate two-hundred and fifty persons, with a school-room and two vestries beneath. Since that time the Society has steadily increased. In November, 1862, the Church in vited the Rev. T. Ashcroft to become their Pastor; the invitation was accepted; the result was very cheering. The Chapel became densely crowded, and about fifty souls were converted, who joined the Church. Active steps were taken to supply the many ap plications for pews and sittings, and the memorial stone of the present Chapel was laid on Friday the 29th of May, 1863, by Mrs. James Beachell, of Rawcliffe.

The new Chapel will accommodate about eight hundred persons, has three vestries, and a large and lofty schoolroom beneath to accommodate fivehundred scholars. It is a neat and elegant building, on the best site pos sible; is the largest and most beautiful Chapel in the town, and is an ornament to the neighbourhood. It was opened on the 29th of July, by the Ex-President, the Rev. J. Guttridge, who preached an eloquent and impressive sermon. In the evening a public tes was provided in the school-room, of which five hundred persons partook, after which a public meeting was held in the

Chapel, Robert Plummer, Esq., of Leeds, in the chair.

An interesting report was read by Mr. J. E. Porter, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. Guttridge, of Sheffield, the Rev. J. Adcock, of Leeds, the Rev. T. Ashcroft, of Goole, and by W. Edwards and J. Carr, Esqrs., and Mr. Baker, of Leeds.

On Sunday, the 31st inst., the Rev. John Mann, of Manchester, preached two impressive sermons. On Sunday, the 7th of August, the Rev. Robert Bushell, of London, delivered two interesting discourses, and on Sunday, the 14th of August, the Rev. R. Wheatley, of Huddersfield, preached two instructive sermons. At each of the above services the congregations were very large, sometimes crowded, and the collections were liberal.

On the 16th inst., a grand Bazaar of useful and ornamental articles was held in the school-room, and continued several days.

On Wednesday, September 14th, a Church-meeting was held in the large vestry; the Rev. T. Ashcroft, in the chair. After some preliminary business was performed, including the doubling of the Chapel keeper's salary, the total proceeds of the opening services were audited, which, with the donations promised, and the proceeds of laying the memorial stone, amount to above £400. The meeting was delighted with the successful issue. Nearly onehundred and fifty more sittings are already let in the New Chapel than could be obtained in the old one, and the congregation is nearly doubled.

The flourishing condition of the school, the large increase of the Church and congregation, the handsome pro ceeds of the opening services, the happy union of all engaged, and the promising prospect of extended usefulness, call forth the ardent thanks. giving and pious resolutions of the Church.

The total cost of the New Chapel, including the debt on the old one, and three dwelling houses, amounts to £1,900. One fifth of this will be cleared by the opening services.

KINGSWOOD.

On Sunday and Monday, September 4th and 5th, the anniversary of the

United Methodist Free Church was celebrated in Zion Chapel; when sermons were preached by the Rev. H. Downes, New Connexion Minister, of Bristol, and Handel Cossham, Esq., of Shortwood Lodge. The congregations were large, and the collections exceeded very considerably those of any previous anniversary.

On the Monday a public tea meeting was held, when about 600 persons partook of the "Social Cup." After the tea, a public meeting followed, at which Mr. Daniel Folok, presided, who in a few pertinent remarks showed that crime and vice in this locality were materially on the decrease, attributing it to the influence of Sabbath-school instruction; after reading statistics in proof of his assertions, he concluded in a few words of encouragement to the superintendents and teachers to labour on with redoubled energy during the coming year.

From the report read by Mr. S. Roberts, the senior secretary, it appears that there are on the books 409 scholars, 48 teachers, including two superintendents, and three secretaries. Increase of scholars, 71; during the year, four scholars had been added to the Church.

The meeting was further addressed by the Revds. W. Boyden, G. Hudson, Messrs. Tyler, Butler, Lewton, and Burgess, sen. The proceedings were enlivened by the singing of the children and choir of several anthems, which were rendered in a manner that reflected great credit on the organist and leader of the choir, who trained them. W. W. B.

LEAMINGTON ;

OPENING OF THE NEW CHAPEL IN
WARWICK STREET.

THE above comely and comfortable edifice, (an account of the laying of the corner stone of which is inserted in the Magazine for July, 1864), was opened for divine worship on Thursday, September 1st, when two sermons were preached by the Rev. J. Guttridge, of Sheffield, Ex-president of the Annual Assembly. On the following Sunday, September 4th, the Rev. W. Reed, of London, preached morning and evening, and the Rev. W. Salter, of Lea