company of friends and scholars assembled at Lombard Street Meeting-house, to sit once more, and for the last time, with that loved form. phere that pervaded my room as I entered it made me realize fully that my life work was done." Grateful that she had been permitted to accomplish the work which her Father had bidden her to do, she laid down The meeting was deeply solemn and imin the Everlasting Arms, with perfect sub-pressive. Many warm tributes of love and mission to her Father's will. Five weeks appreciation of her useful life, seemingly too of suffering followed, borne with cheerful soon ended, were given forth; after which resignation. She remembered all her friends, her remains were interred in Friends' Burydesired that her love be given to them, say- ing Ground of Baltimore Monthly Meeting. ing, "I would dictate a message to each one, had I the strength, but my love flows. out to all." When their love-gifts came in REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TEMPERANCE the form of beautiful flowers, she would express so much pleasure at the remembrance, always saying, "How blest I am." following lines were repeated by her many times during those days of patient suffering: The "All my life long have my steps been attended She said, "I have no further message for the First-day School than my tender love, but I trust that the influence of my teachings may be felt in their hearts, and shown in their daily life." Then, again, she said, "In reviewing my school work, that has been so full of duty, how sweet the recompense." She rejoiced daily in the possession of a quiet spirit, and dwelt under the influence of the words, "Peace be unto you." She was extremely desirous that her sufferings would not cause her to become morbid in her feelings, saying, "I do not want my Christian light to shine before others dimly." She notes in her diary, last New Year's eve, that the year had been a wondrous one to her, richer in gifts than she could tell of, and adds, "May I enter the new year reverently, humbly, and with a daily searching for grace to rule the spirit, that often is so different in its workings from what I would wish it. Bless me, O my Father! and help me to begin another year with thankfulness for all mercies, but also with greater nearness to Thyself. I may not see its ending, but may I be ready for life or death, for ease or trial, as Thy best wisdom shall see fit for me. May I, in all, be Thine." All who knew her are assured that she had "fought a good fight, and kept the faith." The sweet expression of countenance when earth was receding from her showed that she even then realized that there was in truth "a crown of Righteousness laid up for her." Her spirit was released from earth on 23d of Fifth month, 1883, and on 26th a large TO THE LATE BALTIMORE YEARLY MEETING. The Committee on Temperance, continued last year, has labored to advance this interesting and important testimony, we trust, with some degree of success. The work to be accomplished is, however, a great one, and the progress towards its completion seems slow. But when we consider the advances that have been made in the last few years, we are encouraged to press on, not doubting the eventual triumph of the cause. At the close of our last Yearly Meeting, the committee held a meeting which was largely attended, and much life and interest manifested. We organized by the appointment of the usual officers with a view to practical work. In some of the Monthly Meetings, co-operative committees have been appointed, and where this has not been done, efforts have been made both by individuals and in connection with other temperance organizations. Our early predecessors in the Society of Friends, manifested great earnestness and zeal in maintaining and defending the right of the people to legal protection from all oppressive measures on the part of their fellowmen. In the same line we feel called upon to use every right endeavor to remove the sanction of law from a traffic which works such fearful desolation and ruin to individuals and families, and entails great burdens upon the State. In Pennsylvania, where the Legislature has been in session, numerously signed petitions have been presented, asking for a prohibitory amendment to their State constitution. In several places regular meetings have been held to advance the Temperance cause, and in order to cultivate the public mind and bring it to a proper appreciation of the importance of the work, a large amount of Temperance literature has been circulated. We have enlarged this part of our work during the past year, believing it to be one of the most effectual means of working. Many copies of Dr. Richardson's text-book travelers on life's road than to live seeking here and there my own personal happiness. In conclusion, we sincerely hope our Yearly Meeting will continue this good work through a committee, and suggest the appropriation of a sum not less than $200 for its use. Signed on behalf of the Committee. have been placed in the hands of the teachers | to alleviate the cares and sorrows of my fellow of our public schools, to be used by them both in the schools and for general reading, and we believe it, or some similar work, should be made a text-book in our schools and those supported by public funds; hence, we have labored in this direction. We have also recommended Dr. Story's Lectures on Alcohol to those desiring further information of its poisonous effects in the human system when used as a beverage. Recognizing the fact that alcohol, whether fermented or distilled, has the same subtle and injurious influence, and that habits are more easily formed in early life than reformed in later years, we would urge our membership to greater care and caution in the use of cider and wine and such beverages as have too long and too often been regarded as harmless, and we refer to one report from a Monthly Meeting which says, "It is due to several of our members to mention that after having for many years made cider by the quantity and used it profusely, they have come to consider the baneful tendency and have stopped making it or using it, and find much comfort and peace of mind as the reward." In several districts and counties within our borders, prohibition prevails, having been procured either by direct legislative enactments, or by the direct vote of the people through local option laws, and in all cases the result has been in an eminent degree satisfactory. We have contributed somewhat of our means and co-operated with the Maryland State Temperance Alliance, to extend the work in this direction. Of the $200 appropriated for the use of the committee, $107 have been expended. Our committee have felt sensibly that their work and influence have been hindered by the fact, that there are still those who use and a few who sell intoxicating liquors in our body, and we would urge Monthly Meetings to labor to this end that we can say in truth that we as a people neither make, buy, sell or use as a beverage anything that can intoxicate, and until we are clear ourselves our influence will be weakened. We feel the need of more earnest workers in this cause, believing as we do, that intemperance is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) evils of our civilization, and that earnest and continued effort will be required to overthrow it. The sentiment of one of our members who within the year has passed from works to rewards, seems worthy of our consideration: For my own part, my highest ambition is to live to bring joy unto others, and to make their trouble my own. I would rather live THOMAS E. TAYLOR, Baltimore, Tenth mo. 30th, 1883. For Friends' Intelligencer. THANKSGIVING. "It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord alway," wrote one formerly, and we have no less reason to return thanks in our day, seeing that the hope which animated the seers and apostles of the early time is marching on to its fulfillment. Slowly, indeed, and with many backward steps has the best type of manhood reached its present level; yet, what has been attained by ever so small a fraction of the human family, is a prophecy of what is possible to the race. That was not the "golden age," when ignorance and superstition peopled every grove with Fauns and Dryads, and made votive offerings to the forces of nature before which the strongest and bravest quailed and trembled. Now and here this glorious vision is in part realized. We are no longer in fear of magistrates and ecclesiastical tribunals, though we may not accept as a literal fact, that in the far off ages, man pitched his tents beneath the oaks of some antediluvian “ Mamre," and for a thousand years lived beneath its umbrageous shade. We may even be outspoken in regard to our convictions, though it lead to a denial of many things held as sacred truths by former generations. Let our hearts ascend in thanksgiving to the "Father of Lights," that acceptance and favor with Him is not based upon the "Thus saith the Lord" of priest or scribe, but of every man it may now be written, own master he standeth or falleth." to his We have been so accustomed to hear the lamentation that the former days were better than the present, that men had more faith, were more devout, and religion had a firmer hold upon the life and actions then than now that we are scarcely able to rightly estimate the worth and value of the times in which we are participants, or to realize the fact that in almost every Christian nation no man possessing ordinary intelligence, if he be industrious, honest and abstemious need want a comfortable subsistence. It is the lack of self-control that is at the bottom of the sin and attendant misery that blots the fair page upon which we are writing the history of our own age. Never before, perhaps, could this have been said, with so few exceptions, of the whole human family. Not that oppresssion has ceased, or that man is free from the burthens of onerous and exacting laws, but the sense of right inhering in the individual was never so strong, the feeling of a common brotherhood was never so fully acknowledged, and the claims of justice between man and man reaching out to tribes and nations, so recognized and respected. That we are living and taking our part in the world's work at this important period of its history, should inspire us with a grateful sense of our obligations to the Ruler of the Universe, and be an incentive to renewed diligence in every good word and work, that in some small measure the age may be the better for our having lived in it. So shall we fulfill the end and aim of our existence here, and be prepared when our work is accomplished to enter upon the unending hereafter. L. J. R. Eleventh mo. 29th. OUR INDIAN CREDITORS. Secretary Teller has been straightening out the books of the Government with reference to each particular tribe of Indians, and he finds them credited with certain amounts of money which Congress has failed to furnish the means of paying. These omissions, it is charitable to conclude, are not intentional, but have rather occurred through the lack of a proper representative of the Indians in Congress to see that their rights and dues are protected. The effect upon the creditors, however, is the same whether Congress intended to repudiate the indebtedness or not. The only inference they can draw is that there is little faith to be placed in white men, whether as individuals or a Government. The accounts being clearly made out and presented, it is to be hoped that this year the Committees on Appropriations will see that the Interior Department is placed in a shape to bring its excellent administration to a close that will be satisfactory to all parties concerned. The sum total of the delinquency reaches almost the sum of $5,000,000. In 1868 the Sioux agreed by treaty to relinquish certain lands belonging to them in return for stipulated amounts of money to be expended for school and other purposes. The land was transferred as agreed, but the money still remains unpaid, and the delayed debits now reach the aggregate of about $1,000,000. It is too late now to furnish the instruction promised, but not to pay the money it would have cost and to which the Sioux are entitled. Under the treaty stipulation that if they would settle down in a civilized way they should receive each a cow, a yoke of oxen, and $100 worth of tools, 2,500 families did so; but neither cows, nor yokes of oxen, nor tools have been furnished as agreed. There is probably nothing new in this showing, except that the facts are set forth in Secretary Teller's report rather more definitely than usual. It is all in keeping with the dreary history of our Indian affairs for the last half century. It has become rather stale business to exhort the United States Government to keep faith with the Indians. There has been preaching of that sort ever since the country was settled, and the best we can say is that matters are rather better now than they ever were before. The treatment of the Indians furnishes a fair example of the kind of gov ernment people without representation are in the habit of receiving, and it is not unfair to infer that, had not the Southern negroes been enfranchised, they would have been considerably worse off than they are. Secretary Teller has shown himself to be an excellent business man, and he has the Indian accounts posted in intelligible order. It is better late than never, and the best thing that Congress can do now is to examine the list of balances due and vote the money to settle them.-St. Louis Globe Democrat. LESSON-HELPS FOR FIRST-DAY SCHOOLS. In this era of wide-spread Bible study and the use of the International First-day school lessons, the question is not "shall we use lessonhelps," but "what lesson-helps shall we use?" All thoughtful persons will, I believe, agree that many portions of the Bible are not intelligently understood, at least not fully comprehended, without some knowledge of the geography, natural history, and climate of the regions refered to; of contemporaneous history, and oriental customs and modes of thought and expression. These things, as such, are as purely subjects of secular education as grammar, arithmetic, or botany, and, as in choosing school-books, the object should be to obtain the most accurate and best presentation of the subject, so it cannot reasonably be objected to doing the same in regard to these. Learned men of other Christian denominations have, from year to year, collected from the various sources of information, and ar ranged in order, the facts needful to elucidate | First-day school work, the hope of the church the Bible lesson; and valuable "helps," cheap as it is sometimes called, will have swept us in price and convenient in form, are furnished away. to suit almost every taste and need, in yearly, quarterly, monthly or weekly issues. The very general appreciation of these "helps " is shown by their almost universal use amongst Friends, as well as others; and thus far it might seem they would be undenominational, if anything connected with religious instruction could be. But many a casual observation in connection with these facts, shows the drift of the writer's opinions; and along with them are critical notes on the text, the explanations of the lesson, which still more clearly bring out his special religious views. It cannot be otherwise. Men of science, who are strongly possessed of a theory, can hardly relate the facts of a science so as not to favor that theory; much more will earnest Christian minds, zealous for the faith of the gospel as they have received it, give their color to matters of interpretation and conviction. If we, weekly, gather our Bible explanations from these "helps," rich as they are in the results of scholarship, sound on the leading doctrines of Christianity, but not presenting the characteristic views of Friends on the lesson text and on the many occasions where a true Friend would present them, what, in the course of years, will be the results to our religious societies? When we have trained a generation of the children of Friends on such "helps," can we reasonably expect that they will be convinced of our principles, that they will understand and be attached to our special views? It may be said that our First-day school scholars are not expected to accept and adopt everything they read. But while there is so much in these "helps" well worthy of their confidence, shall we expect them to discriminate in favor of Friends, views when these views are not placed before them? We cannot rely upon the efficiency of our teaching to bring them out. Many of our First-day school teachers are young, and themselves not sufficiently instructed to be competent expounders of our principles; and while many of them are very faithful and do the best they can, there is also a great deal of very superficial preparations for teaching the Bible lesson. Many a lesson is taught, or, at least, attempted to be taught, with no other preparation than a hasty reading of the notes of some Sunday-school paper. Such teaching, so far as it imparts any instruction, flings broad-cast into the receptive minds of the young, the special views of other religious denominations, and thus we are unconsciously undermining our own society; and if we thus go on, in a few generations, our It is time we were noting this tendency and changing our methods. We need to be jealous of our influence in our First-day schools. We have ceased in great measure to educate our children in schools under our control; home teaching of Bible truths is not carefully attended to in all our families; our First-day schools remain, where, while we teach primarily the fundamental principles of Christianity, we should also, as occasion arises, give denominational instruction. Every branch of the church of Christ holds some special doctrines or notions, which it believes to be of great importance, and, so believing, it would not be faithful or consistent, if it did not maintain and teach them. Our members should know the religious doctrines of our Society, and also know, and be able to tell, on what Scripture or interpretation of scripture those doctrines rest; then they will be Friends by convincement, established in their views, and loyal to the church of their choice and adoption. We cannot prevent our members from using the excellent "lesson-helps" of other denominations unless we provide equally goods ones to take their place. We have amongst us few, if any, profound biblical scholars or of those who are at home in the higher walks of general learning, but there is comfort in believing that all the contributions of high scholarship, however pleasing or instructive, are not essential for elucidating the Bible lesson profitably,-and are of less value than the true exposition of important Christian doctrines. If we believe our denominational views are right and of genuine importance, can we, as earnest Christians, do other than teach them? Christ is not divided, but while the day is approaching, he has given to each denomination its little light to hold out in the darkness, and they serve him best who zealously hold up the light that he has given them. The founders of our branch of the church believed they had special testimonies given them to bear before men. So they taught and so have we received. So every loyal son and daughter of Fox, and Barclay, and Penn believes; and if we believe it, and would see the truth as we hold it, continue to be upheld by our Society, we must teach it. When God gave commandments and laws to Israel, he charged them to teach them diligently unto their children. Such is his appointed means of preserving in the world the truth that he from time to time gives to men through his specially anointed servants. And hence, there are various true branches of the church of Christ. No denomination has as yet, I conceive, a perfect understanding of all the doctrines of our Saviour. Christ when personally with his disciples on earth, could not tell them all. "I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now," he said to them, near the time of his departure from them. "We know in part and we prophesy in part," was the confession of Paul, the great apostle. Such is God's plan for gradually developing to men, the perfect fullness of the gospel which, when fully unfolded, shall absorb and blend in one all branches of the Christian church, for Paul continues: "But when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away." To this end all denominations work, each in the part the Lord has assigned to it, though it may be with means and instrumentalities that are to perish with the using. In the providence of God many things are enjoined for a time, which in their form are not to continue. The wondrous code of the Levitical worship was to pass away, although each particular of that ritual was appointed by Heaven; But its essence of supreme love to God and love to man, remains the great theme of the new dispensation. And so shall remain all essential truth which Christ gives his church, to one branch one thing, to another, another, in this, its formative stage, the truth shall endure, while that which is adapted to the needs of one generation or one era only, its work having been accomplished, shall, like the old Jewish service, pass away.-Mahalah Joy, in Christian Worker. For Friends' Intelligencer. THE CHOICE OF A VOCATION. ment of the boy's course of school-work in accordance with his future pursuit. It is principally to those that are either directly or remotely interested in the settlement of such an uncertain question, that the considerations of the present article are addressed. The choice of a vocation should evidently be guided, to a large extent, by the capabilities, tastes, and wishes of the lad. We would cry out against the injustice and inhumanity that would condemn a boy to perform physical labor beyond his powers of bodily endurance; should we not as heartily reprobate his consignment to intellectual toil that would in a corresponding degree wear upon his mental constitution? Even if we could shut our eyes to the cruelty involved in each of these courses, we cannot escape the conviction that each would be attended with failure. Equally, though perhaps not so evidently, unwise and unjust is the imposition of a vocation that is repulsive to the tastes and wishes of the worker. It is not all of life to earn a livelihood; an equally important part of true living consists in so occupying ourselves in self-maintenance that we may satisfy our demands for physical, intellectual, and moral enjoyment. We must have intervals of leisure, and our work must be of such a character that it does not prevent the possibility of our enjoyment of these intervals. He whose vocation is a pleasure in itself has made the best choice; but he certainly has chosen wrongly who finds his work so distasteful that his hours of labor are odious to him, and even the enjoyment of his leisure is blemished by the anticipation of return to the hated toil. No matter how simple a man's work may be, the knowledge that he has done his part thoroughly and efficiently, gives him a satisfaction that no bungler can ever know. An essential question that we should ask before deciding upon any employment-a When a lad looks definitely forward to the question in importance far transcending all close of his course of schooling, the question others-is: Does it in any manner benefit presents itself to him: By what means shall the human kind? If the result of the proseI gain for myself a livelihood? In many cution of a business is to make those with cases a decided bias towards some particular whom the worker deals the worse for his dealcalling makes his choice an easy one, and he ing with them, no considerations of profit or starts upon his self-supporting career with attractiveness should make him turn for a the great advantage that his everyday work moment towards it. For instance, the prepais congenial to his tastes. In other cases the ration and selling of intoxicating drinks, the lad, and his parents or guardians, as his ad- cultivation, manufacture, or sale of tobacco visers, approach the subject of a selection are manifestly detrimental to the community, without the aid of his preference for any and he who engages in such a business makes business or profession. As the solution of selection of a calling so bad as deeply to the difficult problem is delayed from day to injure his moral nature. He who engages in day and from week to week, those on whom speculative ventures, whether it be in grain its burden falls realize its increasing urgency, or stocks, or anything else, does so in the exand perceive the advantage that would have pectation of making a profit through some attended its earlier conclusion in an arrange-other man's loss, and allows the greed of the |