mission work among any class except those who are very intelligent in religious matters, the very class that least need mission work, with any expectation of reaping the harvest, with such a rule. We can do good. We can lead to Christ. We can build up other churches, but not our own. Converts whose hearts are aflame with love to their blessed Saviour, who are even willing to submit to rules and regulations and conform to practices, for which they are not as yet able to understand the why and the wherefore, in order to be with us, are not likely to remain waiting at our door until they can understand everything and pass a satisfactory examination, if, in order to do so, they must deny themselves, for no one knows how long, the opportunity of obeying the Saviour's dying command and at his table reciprocating his love.

3d. To make an intelligent acquaintance with our distinctive principles an indispensable requisite in order to membership is to attach an improper importance to knowledge. There is no probability of our becoming too well acquainted with Scripture truth and with duty, but there is danger of requiring too much of those who in God's providence have not had much opportunity of becoming acquainted with either. Such a test as that proposed will not accomplish the purpose intended, viz., make intelligent Covenanters. Something more and of far greater importance is to be insisted on first and most. A few years ago there was published in Our Banner a very severe article condemning the conduct of some of our ministers who had been "guilty of defection." One of the editors of that pamphlet had published some time previous a sermon ably defending our position of dissent. All three editors are now connected with other churches. Some of those ministers who left our communion in 1891 were among the ablest defenders of our distinctive position. The Testimony-Bearing Committee publishes as a tract for distribution a sermon preached by one of these ministers. It is generally regarded as satisfactory a defence of our distinctive position as has been prepared. An intelligent conception of what we believe to be most important truth and a willingness and ability to defend it did not prevent those brethren changing their views and their practices and leaving us. It will not do to make such a test the sine qua non without which no lover of the Lord Jesus Christ can become a member of the Covenanter Church.

This is not a lowering of our position. When applicants apply. for admission into the church, views of truth and duty should be stated in as plain language as possible. They should not be left in doubt as to what will be expected of them. If they are not willing to conform to our requirements or to give up practices inconsistent with them, the course of a session is plain. If, however, they are willing to do so, and give satisfactory evidence of belonging to the class described in the beginning of this article, they should be gladly welcomed into the church, even though they do not understand the reason for all that is required of them, nay, although they be as ignorant as the woman who was healed of the issue of blood.

At the meeting of session referred to, it was resolved to have a communion in Spring Garden chapel on the last Sabbath of May. Services will be held every evening of communion week except Saturday. An opportunity will be afforded for applicants to present themselves for admission into the church. A cordial invitation is extended to any who would like to be present to attend any or all of these services.

J. W. S.

THE Detroit church case appealed by our United Presbyterian brethren to the supreme court of Michigan, has been decided adversely to their claim. The United Presbyterian papers contain an able review of this decision by the Detroit pastor. The Christian Reformer has reviewed it also in an editorial entitled State Enforcement of Congregationalism. This is an apt characterization of the opinion of the court. The judges seem to have only the early New England conception of the church before them, and they have made a decision that cannot stand. The application of the principles of it will lead to its reversal. The seceders from the United Presbyterian congregation in Detroit were seceders from the United Presbyterian denomination, and were but a small fraction of that body. The property was for that body. It is a perversion of a trust to rend it from that denomination, and the courts cannot change the color of the transaction. No denomination has anything to gain in the long run from any countenance given to such acts. We had hoped that by some interest in the property the case could be brought up for review before the courts of the United States.

JTEMS.

W.

FORTY years ago we separated. Then as mere boys, we left the halls of our old and honored Alma Mater. Doubtless, like other boys, we had our youthful dreams, but these visions gave us no premonition "of coming events," no hint of where our fields of labor lay. He drifted to the "sunny South." sunny South." I remained among the hills of my native State. He wielded the sword over many bloody battle fields, in support of the "Lost Cause." I, in an humble way, have given my years of service as a preacher of the gospel. He is now a member of Congress from Mississippi. I wrote to him, a few days ago, asking him to favor the Christian amendment to the Constitution. He answers promptly, pleasantly, and favorably, not in a letter "dictated" to the type writer, but written with his own hand in plain, old-fashioned chirography. These are the first and only words that have passed between us in all these eventful forty years.- United Presbyte

rian.

A VACANCY was created in the Supreme Court of the United States last year by the death of Justice Blatchford. He was of New

York State, and it was expected that his successor would be from that Commonwealth, or at least from the district of which it forms a part. President Cleveland appointed in succession, two legal gentlemen from New York. The United States Senate refused to confirm either of these nominees. The Senate and the country were surprised when the President sent to the Senate the name of Senator Edward D. White, of Louisiana, to fill the vacancy on the Supreme bench. Promptly, and, as is customary when a Senator is thus nominated, without the formality of sending the name to a committee, the nomination was confirmed. The gentleman thus promoted is in his 49th year. He was educated in Jesuitical colleges in Maryland, and graduated from Georgetown College, the leading Jesuit College in the United States.

PITTSBURGH PRESBYTERY met in the chapel of Geneva College, on Wednesday, May 2d, at 10 A. M., for the ordination and installation of Henry G. Foster, as pastor of Geneva congregation. R. C. Wylie was moderator. After the reading of the edict, a remonstrance was laid on the table. The objections under it were all oral, embracing alleged utterances of the candidate as to the Christian Endeavor Society, and the allowance extending to the attitude of Geneva College and the Theological Seminary to the amendment lately prepared by Dr. McAllister. A resolution was offered by him on Wednesday afternoon to the effect that taking into account the remonstrating minority, it was not best to proceed. The discussion of this was allowed to take the same wide range as the objections, and was closed Thursday at 5 P. M., by the adoption of the resolution by a vote of 12 to 11. The ayes were: Bole, Chesnut, Crowe, Duncan. Easson, H. H. George, McAllister, McCartney, D. C. Martin, Sproull, J. R. Wylie, K. C. Wylie. The noes were: Anderson, Coleman, Faris, R.J. George, W.P.Johnston, Kennedy, McAnlis, McKnight, Robb, Stewart, Willson. A representative of the congregation has complained, and appealed to Synod for a reversal of the decision. D. B. W.

THE present Minister of Railways, Telegraphs and Posts of Belgium has conscientious scruples about the delivery of mail matter on Sabbath and is doing all he can to check it, though he cannot entirely stop it under the laws of the country. He has lately adopted a unique device by which those entertaining the same ideas on the subject as himself may prevent their letters being delivered on the Lord's day, while those who have no scruples in the matter may avail themselves of the usual Sabbath deliveries. The device is a little tag attached to the usual stamp directing in two languages-French and Dutch-that the letter bearing it is not to be delivered on Sabbath. The French inscription read-, Ne pas livrer le Dimanche," and the Dutch, "Niet hestellen op Zondag." If those using these stamps have no objection to their letters being delivered on Sabbath, they need only tear off the tag containing the order and place the upper portion of the stamp upon the envelope. These stamps have just been issued and only a few of them, mostly of the 10 centime variety, have as yet been received in this country. The complete series contains nine varieties, valued at 1, 2, 5, 10, 20,

25 and 50 centimes and 1 and 2 francs. design, but the colors are different.

All of them bear the same The profile on the stamp is

that of King Leopold II.-Mail and Express.

THE Federation Committees met in Philadelphia, April 12th, and adopted an amended plan. Our committee had forwarded a letter giving their objections to the Federation Plan. The United Pres byterian Church presented objections. The following is the amended

PLAN OF FEDERATION.

For the glory of God, and for the greater unity and advancement of the church of which the Lord Jesus Christ is the head, the Reformed Churches in the United States holding to the Presbyterian system adopt the following Articles of Federal Union :

1. Every denomination entering into this Union shall retain its distinct individuality, as well as every power, jurisdiction, and right which is not by this Constitution expressly delegated to the body hereby constituted.

2. The acts, proceedings and records of the duly constituted authorities of each of the denominations shall be received in all the other denominations, and in the Federal Council, as of full credit and with proper respect.

3. For the prosecution of work that can be better done in union than separately, an Ecclesiastical Assembly is hereby constituted, which shall be known by the name and style of The Federal Council of the Reformed Churches in the United States of America holding the Presbyterian system.

4.

The Federal Council shall consist of four ministers and four elders from each of the constituent denominations, who shall be chosen, with alternates, under the direction of the respective supreme judicatories, in such manner as those judicatories shall respectively determine.

5. The Federal Council shall promote the co-operation of the federated denominations in their Home and Foreign Missionary work, and shall keep watch on current religious, moral and social movements, and take such action as may concentrate the influence of all the churches in the maintenance of the truth that our nation is a Protestant Christian nation, and of all that is therein involved.

6. The Federal Council may advise and commend in all matters pertaining to the general welfare of the kingdom of Christ, but shall not exercise authority except such as is conferred upon it by this instrument, or such as may be conferred upon it by the federated bodies. It shall not interfere with the creed, worship or government of the federated denominations. In the conduct of its meetings it shall respect their conscientious views. All matters of discipline shall be left to the exclusive and final judgment of the ecclesiastical authorities of the denomination in which the same may arise.

7 The Federal Council shall have the power of opening and maintaining a friendly correspondence with the highest Assemblies of other religious denominations, for the purpose of promoting union and concert of action in general or common interests.

S.

All differences which may arise among the federated bodies, or any of them, in regard to matters within the jurisdiction of the Federal Council, shall be determined by such executive agencies as may be created by the Federal Council, with the right of appeal to the Federal Council for final adjudication. 9. The officers of the Federal Council shall be a President, Vice-President, Clerk and Treasurer.

10. The Federal Council shall meet annually, and on its own adjournment, at such time and place as may be determined. Special meetings may be called by a unanimous vote of the officers of the Council on thirty days' notice.

11. The expenses of the Council shall be met by a contingent fund to be provided by a pro rata apportionment on the basis of the number or communi cants in each denomination; and the expenses of the delegates to the Council shall be paid from this fund.

12. Amendments to these articles may be proposed by the Federal Council, or by any of the supreme judicatories of the churches in the Federation; but the approval of all those judicatories shall be necessary for their adoption.

BIBLE LESSONS.

SECOND QUARTER, 1894.

LESSON IX.-May 27.

MOSES SENT AS A DELIVERER.-Exodus 3: 10-20.

10. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou may. est bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

11. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, ane that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt.

12. And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

13. And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me uuto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

16. Go. and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

17. And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

18. And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.

19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

15. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for GOLDEN TEXT: Fear thou not; for I am with thee.-Isa. 41: 10. Moses grew up in the court of Egypt, all the while his heart being with the oppressed people of Israel. When forty years of age, he took a decisive step by interfering with an Egyptian who was smiting a Hebrew. He killed him, and hid his body in the sand, as though unnoticed. The second day he attempted to reconcile two quarrelling Hebrews, when one resented his interference, asking if he would kill him as he had killed the Egyptian. With this, he fled away into the desert and lived there for forty years, having married the daughter of Reuel, a Midianite, keeping his flock. What a change in his life from the busy court to the quiet life of a shepherd in the desert. What a discipline of his spirit. What humiliation had there been after the first endeavor to help his people! He had called himself, and had failed; now God calls him.

20. And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

I. God calls Moses to deliver Israel, Vs. 10-12. He will now send him to Pharaoh to bring Israel out of Egypt. He now asks, who am I, to undertake this work? This was his thought of himself. The great lesson learned was of insufficiency. God promised his presence, and to bring Israel to that mountain, Sinai, where God was now manifesting himself to him in the burning bush.