the fifth son was born, he was desirous this we fear some of the youngsters will say "There is too little jelly for the medicine." of continuing the Scriptural series, and invented the name "Actsyner" in commemoration of the Acts of the Apostles. A sixth son was called "Romanser," in honor of the Epistle to the Romans. Then the series came to an end, though the subsequent epistles would have furnished a wide field for the father's inventive genius. We have heard similar stories before, but this one appears to be authentic, and is an excellent illustration of the vagaries in which some people indulge in the naming of their children. It seems to us there ought to be some way of preventing the recurrence of such abomi nations. OUR BOOK TABLE. LITTLE HANS AND HIS BIBLE LEAF. By Franz Hoffman. Translated and adapted by Louise Seymour Houghton. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication. Price, $1. The name of Franz Hoffman is a sufficient guarantee of the excellence of this book. It PRESBYTERIANISM FOR THE PEOPLE. By the The author claims that his little b ok is "not for theologians;" but for "the busy, earnest people, who have neither the time nor the taste for an extensive study of this YOUNG PILGRIMS. Philadelphia: Pres- subject, but who ought to know-at least, in byterian Board of Publication. GLIMPSES OF THE CELESTIAL COUNTRY FOR This little book is composed principally of well-selected passages of Scripture having reference to the world to come. It is evidently intended to be read to invalids who desire the consolation of the Word of God. There is a slight thread of fiction in the form of a story to which these Scriptural passages are attached. This we do not regard as an advantage. We would rather use the book in the sick room without the story than with it. THE CENTURY FOR APRIL.-This number contains an excellent article by Dr. W. H. Ward on "Sidney Lanier," a promising American poet, who died young. An intensely interesting article is Notes on the Exile of Dante, II." by Sarah Freeman Clarke, illustrated by views of many places in Italy which were visited by the great poet. There are also illustrated articles on "The White House," "The New York City Hall" and "The Magdalen Islands." The whole number is excellent. OUR GEORGE; OR, HOW TO GROW WISE. By Helen E. Brown. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication. Price, 85 cts. This is a book which in the form of a story is intended to convey instruction to the little folks. That the work is well done cannot be denied. The authoress knows how to write for children, and it is surprising that she should be able to present so much information in such an attractive form. Wich all a general way, what Presbyterianism is, what BIRDS AND THEIR WAYS. By Ella Rodman We have here a series of sketches of birds and their habits by a writer who is evidently a lover of nature. These sketches appear in the form of conversations between a teacher and her pupils. No doubt many young folks -and some who are older-will find the book interesting and instructive. It deserves an extensive circulation. SUNDAY-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT. TEN MINUTES AHEAD. "Your clock is always ten minutes too fast, Uncle Amos,' said little Robert Reed. "Why don't you have it just right?" "Well, you see," said the boy's uncle," when the clock marks railroad time we are apt to wait a little too long when we want to take the cars, and then we have to run, and sometimes miss the train. Now we are always in time. We have to go to work a little earlier in the morning; but it is nice to get done a little earlier in the evening." "That is the reason," said Robert, why you are always in time at church and Sunday-school. I don't think father would let me touch the clock; but I'll just think of your clock whenever I look at ours, and then it will seem to be ten minutes faster. Won't that do just as well?" "Yes." said his uncle, "but don't you forget it!" READING THE RIOT ACT, We once heard a Superintendent say: "The school is becoming very disorderly, and if this continues I will have to read the Riot Act." His knowledge of the Riot Act was probably very limited, but he meant that he would have to take extreme measures. It is not likely that he intended to declare martial law, or even to call out the militia. It oc curred to us, however, that he was showing himself a poor commander. If he had performed his duties properly, governing the school kindly but firmly, he would had no occasion even to think of "reading the Riot Act." THE GOLDEN PSALM. In one of our most prosperous Sunday-schools, every scholar, before being promoted from the Infant to the Inter mediate Department, is required to commit to memory the twenty-third Psalm. We regard this as an excellent arrangement. The words of the psalm are more valuable than gold, and to remember them may be a precious treasure in times of trouble. Even little children can comprehend their meaning, and they are easily committed to memory. In some parts of Europe it used to be customary to require children to repeat this psalm, together with the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed, on the morning of their tenth birthday. We wish this custom were universal at the present time. DEFINITIONS OF BIBLE TERMS. A day's journey was about twentythree and one-fifth miles. A Sabbath day's journey was about an English mile. Ezekiel's reed was nearly eleven feet. A cubit was nearly twenty two inches. A hand's breadth is equal to three and five-eighths inches. A finger s breadth is equal to one inch. A shekel of silver was about fifty cents. A shekel of gold was eight dollars. and thirty-eight dollars and thirty cents. and eight hundred and nine dollars. A talent of gold was thirteen thousA piece of silver, or a penny, was thirteen cents. A farthing was three cents. A mite was less than a quarter of a cent. A gerah was one cent. An epha, or bath, contains seven gallons and five pints. A bin was one gallon and two pints. - LESSON V. THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. CHRISTIAN LOVE.-1 COR. 13: 1-13. 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymba'. 2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not: charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil : 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. May 4, 1884. 8 Charity never faileth, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shal vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. GOLDEN TEXT: Love is the fulfilling of the Law. Rem. 13: 10. The disciples of Corinth were noted for their "spiritual gifts:" but they were given to party strifes and many other faults; and the Apostle shows them that one thing, Christian Love, is more important than the greatest gifts without it. Verse 1. Tongues-gifts of speech. Charitybetter, Love; that which God sheds abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost. Brass and cymbal-all sound, but no soul. 2. Prophecy-inspired utterance of future events. Mysteries-the Divine counsel and will, heretofore secret, but now revealed. 3. Might do all these things for fame or vain glory. Fifteen attributes of love are mentioned; they are of two classes, positive and negative. 4. Suffereth long * kind two sides of a loving temper. Vaunteth not, displays not. Puffed upconceited. 5. Unseemly-discourteously. 6. Iniquity-wrong done by others. 7. Beareththat is, covers or hides the faults of others. 8. Never fails, or ceases. The enduring nature of * love is pointed out, as compared with the things that pass away: as, prophecies, tongues, and knowledge. 9-11. This is illustrated by childish thoughts giving place to mature opinions. 12. Glass-mirror. Darkly, “in an enigma," obscurely: there are problems we cannot solve as yet. Then, in the future life. Face to face, with God and spiritual realities. Know even as-perfectly. 13. Abideth, endure forever. The three Christian graces. Faith is towards God; Hope is in behalf of ourselves; Love is towards others--towards God and His creatures. In the future life the three shall continue; not only Love. Faith will there be trust in and dependence upon God; Hope will there be desire and expectation of something ever higher and better; Love will be ever deeper and stronger. Greatest is Love; most God-like: for "God is Love." Love is more than charity that is, toleration of others, and alms-giving. It includes both these, as parts. QUESTIONS. 1. What may this chapter be called? ("A Psalm of Love"). What is its theme? What were the disciples of Corinth noted for? For what were they to blame? What is meant by tongues? By sounding brass? By cymbal? 2-3. What is prophecy? What are mysteries? In what spirit might a man give alms? What is the true motive of all sacrifices? 4. How many attributes of love are given? Into what classes may they be divided? What are the two sides of a loving temper? What are their opposites? (Impatience and anger). What is envy? Define vaunteth not, and puffed up. 5-6. Define unseemly. Whose good does love seek? What is the soul of love? (Unselfishness: “seeketh not her own"). What is meant by easily-provoked? By evil-think ing? In what does love not glory? In what does it rejoice? 7. What is it to bear all things? Is love skeptical and suspicious? Why is love the great power in all good works? (Because it believes, hopes and endures all things). 8. What is here pointed out? What things shall cease? 9. How is the transitory nature of knowledge and prophecy illustrated? Is our knowledge perfect now? Are we mere babes in spiritual things? 12. How do we see now? What is meant by darkly? What period is meant by then? When will the full revelation come? 13. What graces abide? Towards whom is faith directed? Towards whom is hope? Towards whom is love? Is it selfish? Why is it greatest? Are you cultivating love? CATECHISM. Ques. 117. What are the requisites of that prayer, which is acceptable to God, and which He will hear? Ans. First, that we from the heart pray to the one true God only, who hath manifested Himself in His word, for all things He hath commanded us to ask of Him: secondly, that we rightly and thoroughly know our need and misery, that so we may deeply humble ourselves in the presence of His divine majesty: thirdly, that we may be fully persuaded that He, notwithstanding we are unworthy of it, will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly hear our prayer, as He has promised us in His word. LESSON V. May 4th, 1884. Testament and a few passages in the 3d Sunday after Easter. This chapter on Love follows Paul's Love includes charity, but is far discussion of the various spiritual gifts, more comprehensive in its meaning. in chapter 12. He there describes the Charity denotes (1), tolerance, forbearnature and work of those wonderful ance of others, of their opinions and endowments which many disciples had conduct; (2), alms giving But Love received in the early age of the Church, denotes affection for God and for menand by which they were able to aid the especially that brotherly love, which seeks cause of Christ, and save their fellow- the good of others, rather than of self. men. He urges them to seek these God is Love; and Christ was the very gifts. "Covet the best gifts." And incarnation of Love, leading Him to he then adds: "And yet I show you lay down His life for His enemies. a more excellent way;" this is described in our lesson for to-day. "This hymn of praise in honor of love is remarkable; (1), as coming from St. Paul, and not from St. John, from whose pen we might naturally have looked for it; and (2), occurring here in an atmosphere of controversy, preceded and succeeded as it is by close logical argument, what a striking illustration it is of the completeness of St. Paul's character! The clear, vigorous intellect and the masculine energy of the great Apostle are united to a heart full of tenderness."—Ellicott. V. 1. The tongues of men are the various languages in which men express their thoughts, feelings, desires and purposes. On the day of Pentecost God conferred upon the disciples the gift of tongues, by which they were enabled to preach to men so as to be understood in their own language. The Corinthians estimated this gift more than any other. It was one of the most showy gifts; and on that account was also most likely to be used for display. Eloquence and enraptured utterance accompanied this gift; so that men not only spake in other tongues, but also eloquently and fervidly, carrying conviction to the heart of the hearers. The tongues of angels--the language which angels use; a mode of expression equivalent to the highest power of speech. And have not charity. A man may be eloquent, and yet without love for those to whom he preaches. Agape is the Greek work, translated Charity: in the Revised Version, Love -love in its fullest and highest sense. This word is not found in Greek writings, but is peculiar to the New That same love He communicates to His followers. Without it, even Paul with all his knowledge and eloquence, would be but as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal-sound, but no sense; noise, but no music to delight the soul. 2. The gift of prophecy-not merely to predict future events, but also to speak God's will by inspiration. This was a higher gift than that of speaking with tongues. Understand all mysteries-the secret purposes of God, the hard questions, the dark things of Providence-the enigmas of the ages which all philosophers had failed to answer. Knowledge-to know the truths revealed, the whole of Christian doctrine concerning God and man. Faith; this does not mean saving faith, by which a man is justified, but "miraculous faith; the faith by which persons were enabled to work miracles." This is seen by what follows: so that 1 could remove mountains. (See Matt. 17: 20; and Matt. 21: 21). Have not charity-He does not say that one can have these gifts without love, but if he could, he would be nothing-a mere cipher, without any moral worth. "Satan has more intelligence and power than any man ever possessed, and yet he is Satan still. Those, therefore, who seek to exalt men by the mere cultivation of the intellect, are striving to make Satans of them."-Hodge. 3. Bestow all my goods-almsgiving of an extensive kind. This might be done under the promptings of a refined selfishness or vanity. It is to be done, if at all, out of love. Body to be burned-as was the case with many martyrs. This is self-sacri "The fice for the cause which has been present state as our manhood here is espoused. If done out of love for beyond our early childhood." friends or country, it is the perfection of character. Otherwise it profiteth nothing It is seen by this description that love is the greatest power in the world inspiring to all good deeds-it relieves the want, assuages the sorrows and reforms the vices of men. Love gave us the Saviour; and love gives the Gospel to men lost in sin. 8-13 The Su eriority of Love to Gifts is proved and illustrated by the Apostle. It is characteristic of Love that it never fa leth. It is eternal, and will be at home in heaven, and a part of our eterual life. We shall never outgrow it. The more perfect we become, the more shall we love. Now we see in a glass, dimly. contrast is between the inadequate knowledge of an object gained by seeing it reflected in a dim mirror. compared with the perfect idea we have of it by seeing itself directly"-Peloubet. The three great Christian graces are faith, hope and love. These three abide -"remain imperishable and immortal. Gifts, such as the Corinthians rejoiced in, shall pass away, when the perfect succeeds the imperfect; the graces shall remain in the next life, exalted and purified." Many people think that hope and faith shall cease, and only love abide. But Paul says the three abide. Faith will abide, because we shall never cease to trust in Jesus Christ. The faith will be different from what it is here; it will be trust and dependence in God, although seen then, as He is not now. Hope is the expectation and desire of something good. In the future life we shall obtain what we hope for; but there will be ever more and more to desire and expect. Hence hope shall abide. The greatest is Love; and that for 1. It is most God-like; many reasons. He is Love. 2. It is unselfish, and centres on others. 3. It seeks to make others happy. 4. "It overcomes more evils; it is the great principle which is to bind the Universe in harmony, which unites God to His creatures, and His Proph cies shall fil-because they creatures to Himself and binds all holy will be no longer needed, when we shall creatures to one another." 5. The life see God face to face. Tongues shall of heaven is love. cease-because the need of them shall cease; there shall be but one language in heaven. We shall 6. know each Use all means for growth in grace. other there," and understand each other. The body grows stronger by exercise. Knowledge shall vanish away We Trading of money makes men grow shall still have knowledge in the here- rich; the more we trade our faith in after, but no longer the imperfect know- the promises the richer we grow. If ledge. The whole and perfect truth you would be growing Christians, be shall so flood the mind, that all our humble Christians. 'Tis observed in fragmentary knowledge shall come to some counties (as in France) the best an end; "as the feeble light of the stars and largest grapes, which they make vanishes, or is lost in the splendors of their wine of, grow on the lower sort the rising sun," (vs. 9-10). of vines; the humble saints grow most in grace. God giveth grace to the humble.-T. Watson. 11. When I was a child. "In our future life we will be as far beyond our |