whatever may be the opinions of numbers regarding the moderate use of stimulants, all, surely, must have the conviction that abstinence from these is the duty and the interest of the young. "There are two institutions connected with us that are not so numerically strong as they should be. These are the Bible Classes for young men and young women that assemble on Sunday afternoons, at three o'clock. In the past they have been the means of blessing many, and now they are as competent to do this as at any former period. May their numbers be greatly increased. "The Christian Instruction Society is doing a noble work. It has eighty visitors, who go forth every Sunday afternoon, and also on week days, to many hundred homes with the good news of salvation. This number ought to be doubled, yea trebled; and if it were so the Saviour would see more than He does now of the travail of His soul to be satisfied. "We meet together on the Sabbath to worship God, and to be enlightened, comforted, and strengthened. But every one of us should labour to secure in some way the present and eternal welfare of others. If we were all doing this to the extent of our ability glorious results would be produced. Many, perhaps, can only put forth slender efforts to bring sinners to Christ; but let these be united to one another, and we shall have power enough to deal with every sinner in the surrounding neighbourhood. Many, in all probability, can only give insignificant sums for the cause of Christ; but let all these flow into one place, and the exchequer of God's house will be well replenished. Many, it may be, can utter but feeble words for the Redeemer; but let these go forth in all their weakness, and, under the Divine Spirit, they shall produce splendid results for eternity. We have been raised from the valley of sorrow and death to the heights of joy and life; let us stand together firm as the old Roman phalanx, and we shall be as a city on a hill which cannot be hid. We have been constituted light-bearers in the moral firmament; let us shine together, and we shall pour a flood of light around us, before which the darkness must pass away. We have been made the salt of the earth; let us together permeate the corrupted and corrupting community within our reach, and we shall preserve it from corruption. Every drop of water in the sea is needed in order that it may fulfil its daily task; and every follower of Christ in this church and congregation is required before we can take our full share in evangelizing the world for Him. Let us, then, be aroused more than ever to action, to combined action, and to combined action for the salvation of souls and the glory of God. May every one of us be so faithful in the work until death, that we shall then have pleasant reflections and brilliant hopes as labourers together with God." Dr. McAuslane has just celebrated his first anniversary as Minister of Victoria Park Congregational Church. A public meeting was held, the Right Honourable the Earl of Shaftesbury being in the chair, the speakers including the Rev. Dr. Thomson, of Manchester (previously referred to); the Rev. David Thomas, of Stockwell, (Editor of The Homilist); the Rev. Dr. Leask, (Editor of The Rainbow); the Rev. Dr. Edmond, one of the oldest and most distinguished ministers of the Presbyterian denomination; and the Rev. M. Cuthbertson, B.A., ex-Chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. Fifty other ministers of more or less eminence also attended to "strengthen the good Dr. McAuslane, whilst those present at the church could not have numbered less than two thousand. Dr. McAuslane's influence is not the mere influence of the pulpit, great and beneficial as that is. But he is of equal power-some think a greater power-whilst on the platform. It was our recent privilege to be present at the invitation of the philanthropic Earl of Aberdeen (for a memoir of whom vide page 55, April), at the annual gathering at Exeter Hall in connection with the Little Boys' Home at Farningham. The Earl of Aberdeen was the Chairman, who felicitously and feelingly addressed the inmates of that truly paternal and maternal institute. His lordship was followed in the course of the evening by Dr. McAuslane, who, in the course of a characteristic speech, in which, like Lord Aberdeen, he held the attention of the vast audience and the boys equally, told them a story of a clock. As far as we remember it (not making any but mental memoranda) the doctor drew a moral from a valued timepiece which graces his own residence. The manner, elocution, and deportment of the speaker were on a par with the matter of the address. Dr. McAuslane is the author of several volumes of sermons and expositions. He received his degree of D.D. from Lexington University ten years ago. The reverend gentleman married, in 1853, the daughter of James Smith, Esq., of Dumbarton, by whom he has had issue six sons and two daughters. Two of his sons are dead; the other four are members of his Church, and also his eldest daughter (Julia). Mrs. McAuslane died on May 9th, 1879, and on her tombstone the doctor has placed these words," She was a faithful daughter, a loving sister, a devoted wife, an excellent mother, a faithful friend, and a genuine christian.” MR. THOMAS CORY, J.P. (SWANSEA). SOUTH WALES is eminent for its industry, and perhaps no portion of the Principality has so many claims to commercial recognition as Swansea. The Hussey-Vivians, Dillwyns, Corys, and Baths, in their respective departments, are known throughout the length and breadth of the community, and by a consistent and honourable course of trading have secured the confidence and admiration of all those with whom they have created business relations. The popular subject of this sketch, Thomas Cory, was born on November 11th, 1833, at Bideford, in the County of Devon. He was educated at Dr. Burnett's Boarding School, Cardiff, and on leaving this seminary he was sent to a private academy at Jersey. From Jersey he proceeded to France, to complete his French education, whence he went to Italy, in order to acquire a knowledge of the Italian language. Ultimately, Mr. Cory finished his education in Spain, learning the Spanish tongue, the idioms of the three countries being spoken and written correctly by him. Returning home, on attaining his majority, Mr. Cory went to Swansea, in order to establish the present commercial house in connection with his relatives, Messrs. Cory, Brothers, of Cardiff. Owing to the young man's enterprising spirit, affability, and consummate commercial knowledge, the great firm (now conducted under the style of Cory, Yeo, and Company) is not only the exponent of the Coal trade in the Principality, but also the most important, as much for the capital at its disposal, as for the extent of its commercial operations. Mr. Cory is one of the proprietary trustees of Swansea Harbour; but although in politics he is a Conservative, he has never taken any part in either local or political matters. He is one of the most popular men in the town, however; and had he possessed ambition in either of these directions, he would surely have commanded success. He seems to have preferred, however, to attend to the furtherance of his vast business, and to the fuller cultivation of a mind already rich in stores of general and polite literature. In 1857 Mr. Cory was married to Miss Sargeant, of Meachen Place, Newport, Monmouthshire, but who died in 1880. In the early part of this year, Mr. Cory married Miss Bullock-Webster, of Cheltenham. On their return from their recent wedding-tour, the happy pair were the objects, of a spontaneous and grand manifestation on the part of Mr. Cory's employés and workmen, to the number of 2,000. We are indebted to the Cambrian for the following graphic account of the interesting occurrence. "It being known that Thomas Cory, Esq., J.P., would bring home his bride, some thousand of the workmen and employés of the firm determined to give him a right royal demonstration of Welcome, and in spite of the personal wishes of the bride and bridegroom, and even of some attempt at evasion, the men carried out their intention, and raised such a joyous display as Swansea has rarely if ever witnessed. Mr. Cory was married about a month since at Binfield Parish Church, Berkshire, to Miss Bullock-Webster, eldest daughter of the late Rev. Edw. Bullock-Webster, rector of Bassenthwaite, Cumberland. The honeymoon was spent on the Continent, and the happy couple reached home last evening by the train due at 8.15. It was expected by the demonstrators that Mr. and Mrs. Cory would come on to the High Street Station, where a band of music and a large contingent of employés awaited them, each with a torch or a Chinese paper lantern of a quaint pattern. In this they were disappointed however. Mr. and Mrs. Cory alighted at Landore, and drove in their brougham towards Sketty House, but not without detection, for, on reaching the town, they were soon espied and vociferously cheered by the crowd. At the Uplands, where the greater portion of the demonstrators were waiting, forming a long line of eager faces lit up by the lurid flash of the torch, and by the softer light of the paper lanterns, the carriage was stopped, the pair of greys taken out, long ropes attached to the vehicle, and so the bride and bridegroom were drawn in triumph along the Sketty Road to the house, the band giving vent to inspiriting and appropriate music, and the bells of the Church on Sketty Hill ringing out the wedding peal. The roadway itself, and every point of vantage in gardens and windows and on walls, were crowded with eager sightseers from the town, who added to the previous clamour their own hurrahs. The workmen at the long ropes pulled with a will towards Sketty House, the approaches to which had been very nicely decorated for the occasion. Spanning the chief gateway was a triumphal arch of greenery, illuminated with ornamental paper lanterns, and enriched with silken banners of excellent device, the central one bearing the monogram 'T. J. C.' the initials of the bride and bridegroom. It was not without great difficulty, and some lapse of time, that the crowd could be so repressed as to allow the carriage to enter the gateway, in spite of the valiant efforts of the county police. Meanwhile the Occupants of the carriage, like those who sit on thrones of the world, had to bear the 'beating of fierce light,' as the lantern holders came up in relays and crowded round the vehicle to get a peep at the bride. Then the band struck up Sir Henry Bishop's charming Home, sweet home;' and from the lawn rockets shot up like comets to the sky, and Roman candles and fiery showers yielded their variegated lights to aid the twinkling stars above, and cascades and wheels, and other devices of fireworks, added to the paper lanterns that depended from the foliage in the grounds, further enlivened a scene of mansion, and village, church spire, and gardens, and the distant waters of the Bay in front, bathed in the pale glamour of the moonlight. Arrived at length within the gate the carriage was stayed, while Mr. John Roberts, C.E., read an address on behalf of the employés." · The following characteristic verse or "talcen slip" in honour of the occasion (in Welsh) was sung by one of Mr. Cory's hands Hurrah! Meister Cory Ai anwyl serchog fun : |