The World says a true word on this theme: "More life, more heart, more depth, more love for the beautiful, and forgetfulness of self: that is the creed we want; let us have it."

Fill the old places then by real living, loving, labourious preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ; and by the charms of a people true and sympathetic, devoted to human welfare in all its manifold forms; and, at the same time, build new houses in which others may be gathered to hear the unsearchable riches of Christ, and be trained to do all the will of God. Our watchword must be, "Colonize new districts; plant new chapels; and fill with new life the old.” JOHN CLIFFORD.

In Memoriam: Mr. and Mrs.

Thomas, and

Mr. Richard Thirlby.

I. MR. AND MRS. THOMAS THIRLBY.

MARCH 24, 1878, died at Normanton-le-Heath, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Sarah, the beloved wife of Mr. Thomas Thirlby. The deceased had a long and painful affliction, but bore it with resignation and fortitude. She was interred at Packington; her funeral sermon being preached by the pastor, March 31, from the words, "Patient in tribulation." Mr. Thirlby attended the funeral in his usual health, though fatigued by the long and anxious watching by the bedside of his suffering partner. After the return home bronchitis and insomnia began, from which he never recovered. He died on the 23rd of April, having survived his wife but thirty days. Born on 2nd January, 1800, he was consequently in his 79th year. All that is excellent in the General Baptist Creed and Institutions was well represented in Mr. Thirlby. Up to the very last his memory was retentive of the history of the New Connexion for the last sixty years or more, and warmly and generously had he supported the institutions of the Denomination. Committee meetings, Conferences, and Associations, Mr. Thirlby always made an effort to attend. His manly presence and genial countenance will be missed and remembered by many who so highly esteemed him. He was elected a deacon of the Church in 1849. He died in the full assurance of faith, and the pastor preached his funeral sermon, April 28, from the words, "Rooted and built up in Him." On both occasions a large congregation attended to testify their high respect for these two friends, by whose removal the Church at Ashby and Packington has sustained a great loss.

II. MR. RICHARD THIRLBY.

Another member of the Thirlby family, a family well known in the Midland General Baptist Churches, has suddenly passed away. Late on the evening of July 5th, when about to retire to rest, he was seized with apoplexy as he sat in his arm chair, and in ten minutes had ceased to breathe! Richard Thirlby served his apprenticeship in Loughborough to the business of a carpenter and builder, and in his early youth became a member of the Baxter-gate Church. He afterwards lived in Birmingham and other places in pursuance of his business, and then, in 1840, he settled at Castle Donington. For many years he was actively engaged in the Sunday School as a teacher, and afterwards as superintendent. He was the collector of the annual subscriptions to some of our public institutions, and took a lively interest, not only in the affairs of the Church at Donington, but in those of the denomination. He carefully preserved the denominational literature, and his library contains a complete copy of the General Baptist Magazine and Repository from the beginning until now-a very rare possession. A short time ago he was elected to the office of deacon. He had sterling worth in him. He was thrice married, and was greatly beloved as a husband and father. He was interred in the ground behind the chapel, by the side of two of his wives. Dr. Underwood conducted the funeral service in the chapel, and spoke from personal knowledge of his character and career from his youth to his last day. Rev. J. R. Parker officiated at the grave. His age was sixty-seven.

The Results of the Congress.

THE door of the great European Congress is closed. The Treaty of Berlin is signed. Lords Beaconsfield and Salisbury, our distinguished plenipotentiaries, have returned home and reported themselves to the House of Lords and to the nation. At present the nation does not know exactly where it is. The light is not "dry," or clear, or full. Men look like "walking trees," and the "results' of the Congress are mantled with confusion. There is so much glare, and yet so much gloom, that it is difficult to know whether to be grateful or vexed, con- . tented and hopeful, or chagrined and angry.

That

Some few things are certain. Congress has closed without an immediate call to war. The sword remains in its sheath, and the noise of fruitful industry just recommencing will not be broken at once by the fierce din of war. is a good over which we may unfeignedly rejoice, though we shall be likely to temper our joy with fear and trembling.

For this, too, is certa in, the reputation of England for straightforwardness and integrity has suffered irreparable damage. The national conscience has been outraged; the national character polluted. The head of the Tory Government has won the palm at the Congress table for chicanery and deceit; for bold artifice and uncompromising hypocrisy. In "fair speeches" and plausible words, he insisted that everything should be fair and above-board; notwithstanding the arch-juggler carried two secret conventions in his pocket, and the intention, as Lord Derby has told us, in his heart, to take forcible possession of Cyprus, and of some point on the coast of Syria if necessary. Righteousness exalts a nation; unrighteousness weakens it, corrupts it, degrades and destroys it. The Nemesis is certain, though slow.

This, too, is admitted, that whatever has been effected at the Congress has not been done, so far as England is concerned, to benefit the suffering and oppressed people of the Turkish Empire. Beaconsfield states that he used all his influence to maintain the integrity of the Ottoman dominions. Judging the Prime Minister by his own speech, there has not been the slightest attempt made by England on behalf of the populations that Turkey exasperated into revolt, and systematically and cruelly oppressed. Russia has been left to do all that, and has been opposed tooth and nail by England in doing it. Thus all the traditional glory of England as the friend of the slave, the pioneer of freedom and of self-government, has been obscured, and the country of Wilberforce, Clarkson, and Knibb has championed the abettors of tyranny and unbridled wrong. Sure as we are a people we shall have to suffer for that. The Nemesis is certain, though slow.

Nor have we improved our relations with the leading European nations. France is jealous and angry. Russia is not soothed by the over-reaching and hectoring policy of the Tory chief and his page. Italy is aflame with ill-feeling. Austria is content, but uncertain; and Germany watches in enforced patience, knowing that not a little grist is being prepared for her mill. The eruption of the European volcano has ceased; but there are ominous underground rumblings, and occasional jets of steam, that forbid the enjoyment of undisturbed repose, and tell Britishers to take care of themselves when the next explosion takes place.

But other and more satisfactory results are secured by this meeting. There is a new Bulgaria and a new Roumelia. Bulgaria, including the country from the Balkans to the Danube, is "to become an autonomous and tributary principality;" and East Roumelia will have a Christian Governor-General. Roumania and Servia are independent. Bosnia and Herzegovinia are handed over to Austria; and so Austria will be brought nearer to Russia, and will become a barrier against its advance. Montenegro gains its independence, a slice of additional territory, and the port of Antivari. Russia takes Bessarabia from Roumania, and gives in exchange the Dobrudscha. Batoum becomes a free port. Kars reverts to the Muscovite Empire. Greece is left out, and coolly told by Lord Beaconsfield to "learn to be patient." Asiatic Turkey passes under the protectorate of England; and Cyprus virtually becomes ours. These are the

principal arrangements; but the results issuing from these arrangements no one can tell.

We are willing to hope for the best; but we dare not suppress our fears. In our judgment the annexation of Cyprus, and the assumption of the guardianship of Turkey in Asia, will be found to be a grave mistake. History, which is impartial, will one day impeach the chief actor in this drama, and convict him of coarse ambition, vulgar trickery, daring deceit, political imprudence, and national mischief. JOHN CLIFFORD.

Jewish Trades and Professions.

BY REV. G. W. M'CREE.

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A CURSORY examination of the Sacred Books of the Hebrews will show that they were skilful workers in gold, and silver, and brass. In the Holy Tabernacle there were many proofs in the "pure gold," the "beaten gold," the golden candlestick, with its staff, branches, bowls, and flowers, of their cunning skill in the goldsmith's art. As the Holy Tabernacle contained also a crown of gold," seven lamps of gold, and dishes, spoons, snuffers, and tongs, all made of gold, it is evident that some of the Hebrew host must have had a profound knowledge of the nature and manipulation of that precious metal. They were equally familiar with silver and brass. In making the furniture of the Holy Tabernacle they had to produce "rings of gold," and "sockets of silver." The pillars were overlaid with gold, and fine sockets of brass were cast for them, so that it seems large knowledge of a technical kind was even then possessed by the Hebrew artizan. The description given of the vestments of the Hebrew high priest also exhibits a profound knowledge of fabrics, metals, precious stones, engraving, and design, on the part of those chosen to accomplish its production. Those vestments were for "glory and beauty," and consisted of a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle, and to make them it was necessary to use gold; blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen; a sardius, a topaz, a carbuncle, an emerald, a sapphire, a diamond, an agate, an amethyst, a beryl, a ligure, and a jasper, and on them were "the names of the children of Israel, according to their names, like the engraving of a signet," so that it appears the art of engraving on precious stones was well known to the ancient Hebrews.

Their descendants, the modern Jews, have never lost, but, on the contrary, have successfully cultivated a knowledge of rare metals, purple garments, fine linen, pearls of beauty and price, graven gems, and crystal cups. They deal in spices and silks, furs and flowers, wines and watches, rings, bracelets, lockets, bronzes and pictures; but rarely in houses and lands. In many trades no modern Jew is ever found engaged in England. On the contrary, some branches of trade are nearly wholly in their hands. The great ready-made clothing firms are all of the Jewish race. In the east of London many of the Jewish persuasion are shippers" to an enormous extent, and send off tons of every imaginable marketable goods to the colonies. From pins to pianos, from sardines to saddles, and from one package to a hundred they pour forth their merchandise from the London Docks for the ever-multiplying colonists in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the Cape. Nothing in the way of portable goods comes amiss to the Jewish shipper. He knows when to buy, and how to sell, and is an invaluable adjunct as a distributor of wealth," to all concerned.

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Hatton Garden presents an interesting spectacle to those who wish to study the ways of Jewish trade and commerce. The immense brass-plates on the door posts glisten with Jewish names of English, French, German, and Polish origin, and dealers of precious stones and metals are found on all sides. We have also Jewish lawyers, and one Jewish Judge. Jews abound in journalism, in art, and in commerce; and some of our finest singers are of the Jewish race. In finance the Hebrew is supreme, and thus wields a golden sceptre often mightier than a king. So that to this day we see the world moulded by men and women descended from a wandering sheik, and a babe found by the side of an ancient river.

Scraps from the Editor's Waste-Basket.

I. THE YEAR BOOK for 1878 is now ready. We have seen some of the advance sheets, and can promise a volume of great interest to all who care for the growth and prosperity of the denomination. The business of our Annual Assembly is fully reported, and shows signs of improved machinery and perfected organization. The statistics and reports of the churches bring every church into closer fellowship with its neighbour, and widen the channels for the freer flow of sympathy and prayer. The edition containing the Reports of our leading Societies, and so forming "The Complete Year Book," will be sold this year at 9d. Get it in one form or other, and read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest its contents.

II. VOLUNTARYISM IN THE Colonies. -Dr. Short, Bishop of Adelaide, has been giving a lesson to his brethren of the Pan-Anglican Synod on the policy of Free Churches. He said "My business was to educate my people to the habit of giving to God's service. They had to learn, as you have yet to learn, as I have still to learn, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. I don't think that either you in England, or we in the colonies, have yet quite learnt that lesson." He set himself to the task, and now hear his statement of results. "Church-rates and briefs," he said, "so odious in England, were replaced by freewill contributions. A Home Missionary Society was set on foot. A widow and orphan fund followed. A fund for the supply of clergy was started. A cathedral, costing more than £20,000, was reared. A college school was established. Annuity funds were formed for aged and infirm clergy. Discipline has been maintained for twenty years without the aid of the civil courts. The Clergy have increased from five to forty-one, the churches from one to eighty; and "the liveliest interest among the laity in the development of the Church has been promoted." The inference of the Times is not one whit too large when it says the English Church "may learn how an Episcopalian clergy can maintain order and keep the revenues of its flock without the aid of the State, the resources of a State-endowment, or the support and patronage of a great aristocracy." Our colonies will teach us something if we will let them.

III. JINGOISM is supreme in English politics, and it is carrying us, at a fear

ful rate, far away from all the maxims and principles of the British Constitution into the vices of an Oriental despotism. Personal government is introduced with ruthless recklessness. The authority of the House of Commons is lowered and curtailed. The sepoys are brought from India to Malta without the utterance of a word to the representatives of the people. The protectorate of Asiatic Turkey is assumed without any consultations of the people. We are delivered into the hands of Jingo, and he is doing with us as he lists. Jingo is the idol of the hour. The aristocracy bow before him. The rowdies of our large towns proclaim his praise. He is a favourite in high and low places alike. As Mr. Jenkins says in his new political satire, "There is no god but Jingo, and Lord Benjingo is his prophet." Like a Colossus he stands astride the British nation, with one foot in the beer-house and the other on the steps of the throne.

IV.

SUNDAY CLOSING.-At last the Irish Public House Sunday Closing Bill has passed the third reading, and passed with a splendid majority. Pertinacious and lawless opposition has been baffled, and persistence is rewarded. Unfortunately it has been made worse by being amended, and is not to apply to five large towns. Still let the friends of national sobriety take courage. We shall win all round yet.

V. LOOK TO THE REGISTER.-Voting lists are at the doors of churches and chapels? Is your name there? If not, get to know why not. You will be wanted before next February. Do not miss your chance. All lodgers should be on the alert. It is expected Parliament will still be continued; though Lord Beaconsfield can do very well without it, in fact better without it than with it. The policy of King Charles the first is being restored, but it is scarcely likely to be worked thoroughly for the next few years; and therefore another election may take place, and take place soon. Be ready.

VI. THE HOME MISSION REPORT.— The whole of it is issued with this month's Magazine, but it will be published separately, and will contain, besides the names of the Committee, Financial Statement and Rules, the Secretary's Statement and Mr. Spurgeon's speech. It may be had on application to the Assistant Secretary.