Our fair satellite, however, gets up a charming exhibition on a more southern belt of the earth's territory between the limiting parallel of 28° and 38° south latitude. She occults the planet Venus on the 14th, at three o'clock in the afternoon. The close conjunction occurring in this vicinity, for moon and planet are then only six apart, becomes in the more favored belt of the earth's domain a beautiful occultation. The slender crescent, only ten hours before new moon, occults the fairest of the stars, at that time nearly a rounded orb. Moon and planet are in turn hidden in the blaze of sunlight. Conjunction and occultation are therefore invisible to the naked eye, and in this respect we are as well off as our southern neighbors. The phenomenon may be observed with the aid of a powerful telescope, for through its light-gathering glass the brilliant planet may be followed in full daylight, till she is nearly ready to pass beyond the great luminary.-Providence Journal.

LOCAL INFORMATION.

provide an attractive and profitable place, where young people engaged in business and without home influences may spend their evenings and other leisure time.

"To do this effectively, a regular organization should be had, with standing committees charged with the care of the various departments of the work.

"The membership should be based upon a small membership fee and annual due to defray the necessary expenses. Any member of our Religious Society, or any person interested in it, to be eligible to membership, the officers always to be members of the Society of Friends. A regular place of meeting, always open, consisting of two or more cheerful rooms, attractively furnished, well lighted, heated and ventilated, should be provided.

The best current magazines, periodicals and papers should be upon the tables; a well-selected reference library at hand, and, as way opens, a miscellaneous library also.

In case there are members wishing to pursue a special course of reading or study in addition to the above, such shall be provided for during the intervening weeks.

"Great care should be exercised in selecting the committee, as the success of the movement will depend in a great degree upon the manner in which the meetings are conducted. These committees should be encouraged to have lectures delivered upon suitable subjects as often as practicable, instead of the other literary exercises recommended.

"Believing that with the various First-day schools the opportunity is afforded for organizing a plan for social minglings with the children of our Society, and others who may be drawn to join them, we propose that during at least one-half of the year there be once a month a time set apart in the different localities of Friends' meetings for an assembling of the children, either at the meeting-house or at the private residence of a member; the time designated to be occupied with some attractive and instructive form of literary exercises under the supervision of older persons, but conducted by the children, and social mingling to embrace conversation and simple amusements.'

Some discussion followed upon the plan of carrying out these recommendations, as this association has no power to appoint committees in the Monthly Meetings.

It was thought we should carry the burden home to our own meetings, and present our individual convictions there.

The question was asked, Are these outside influences doing good or harm?

The First-day school has long been an outside organization, but it has proved beneficial, and other outside organizations, if they are right, will make themselves felt in the meeting. They should be considered as auxiliary, and seeking to build up the Society. It is the object of this association to evolve light on the best means of promoting the interests of the Society of Friends, and we can only recommend what we have thought of and digested. New plans and wise plans will come.

At the evening session the clerk said that it was felt that the time had come to make the motion which is embodied in the following resolution:

Resolved, That this body invite the Elders and Overseers throughout the Yearly Meeting to meet with the Executive Committee at Race Street Meeting-house, Fifth month 2d, at 101⁄2 o'clock.

Inasmuch as this association cannot accomplish the end intended without the co-operation of the different branches of our religious organization, it was thought to be proper to invite the counsel of those who are further advanced and more deeply experienced.

The three propositions regarding birthright membership were then taken up:

1st. It is the sense of this association that the right of membership should be extended to children where one of the parents is a member, upon the request of such parent.

2d. That children who have one parent a member of our meeting should, on application of the parents, have all the rights of membership during their minority; but before arriving at the age of 25 said children should decide whether they should remain members or not.

3d. All children with one parent, only, a member, born after the adoption of this rule, shall be recorded as members, if both parents give their written consent thereto.

Several Friends spoke in favor of admitting to full membership children who have but one parent a member, but others favored limiting the time to 25 years. It was the view of some that this limitation should be put upon all birthright membership, as it would oblige children to become acquainted with our Society in order to come to a decision. The present plan was thought by one Friend to be a false security for the church, for the parents and for the children. After a full consideration, the second proposition was adopted.

It was decided to hold the next meeting Fifth mo. 29th.

THE LIBRARY.

The Empire of the Hittites. By William Wright, B.A., D.D. With decipherment of Hittite Inscriptions by Professor Sayce. This important and careful work is from the press of Scribner & Welford.

The object of the book is to restore the Empire of the Hittites to its rightful position in secular history, and thus confirm the scattered reference to the Hittites in Sacred History. Says the author:

From the time of Abraham to the Captivity, the Hittites move on parallel lines with the chosen people.

We see them carrying out with formal courtesy a shrewd bargain with the father of the faithful. We see their serried lines of chariots opposing Joshua on his entrance into the promised land, and in the decisive battle by Lake Merom. We see their soldiers of fortune leading the hosts of David and Solomon, and their women in the harems of the same powerful monarchs; and finally we see the Syrian army flying in panic

from the siege of Samaria for fear of the "Kings of the Hittites."

Up to very recent times it was not possible to locate the Children of Heth," or Hittites, with any certainty, but the finding of the wonderful inscribed stones at Hamah by the author, in 1871, the perfect plaster casts of them which he furnished to the British Museum, and their systematic study by the best scholars of England, has laid before the world the evidences

of the existence of an empire to the north of Palestine, from which came the Hittites.

Those who cling with a kind of devotion to the sacredness of the Bible narrative will be glad to be assured that this is fully sustained by the cumulative evidences of modern discovery; and the light of the 19th century, A. D., reveals to us the existence of a Hittite power in the 19th century, B. C., and enables us to follow the fortunes of that power down to 717 B. C., when the Hittite Empire was finally crushed on the fatal field of Carchemish.

Ferishtah's Fancies.-This is a new philosophical poem by Robert Browning, and will be read studiously and with eager interest by those who love to follow the craggy paths of this great poet, up to the heights to which he habitually attains.

"Ferishtah " is a Persian Dervish, and his observations and reflections are his "fancies." An oriental poem is this, and many will find much food for the spirit in these "fancies," and will take much pleasure from the obscure verse in which Browning chooses to clothe wise and noble thought.

CURRENT EVENTS.

Domestic.—A. P. Lawton, nominated by President Cleveland as Minister to Russia, has had his name withdrawn by the President because his disabilities in consequence of participating in the civil war of 1861 are not removed. It is hoped that the appointments to Federal office during the recess of the Senate will be so discreet as to win the confidence of the whole country.

IT is announced that efforts are being made to expel Chinese laborers from Washington Territory. Citizens have been threatened with violence to person and property unless they promptly discharge all Chi

nese laborers.

FROM Raleigh, N. C., comes the announcement that many colored people of that State are desirous of emigrating to Liberia. The wages they have been treme poverty. receiving are so very low that they are kept in ex

THE Freedom of Worship bill has passed the Senate of New York Legislature, on Fourth month 1st. THE latest advices from West Virginia show that there is still great destitution in this State.

The Mason County Gazette, published at Point Pleasant, says that it is reliably informed that 600 people in that county are in absolute want, and that many of them are in a starving condition. The Gazette also says the distress in Clendenen district is awful, and that many people there are actually starving. It declares that the attempts to disguise the real facts are inhuman, and appeals to the County Court to meet and provide immediate relief for the sufferers.

ADA C. SWEET, Pension Agent at Chicago, was appointed by General Grant in 1874, and she has performed her duties well ever since. So much Colonel John C. Black, the new Commissioner of Pensions, admitted in his despatch asking her to resign. A. C. Sweet, therefore, has stated her case to President Cleveland in a pointed despatch, and has also informed Colonel Black that she does not mean to resign. It will be interesting to see what the President of Civil Service Reform on her side, unless, indeed, will do now. A. C. Sweet at least has the principles according to Democratic interpretation, they do not apply to women.

Foreign.-Rufino Barrios, President of Guatemala, is believed to have been slain in battle, but there is as yet a shade of doubt as to the death of the ambitious Guatemalan. The proposed consolidation of the Central American republics would be advantageous, if they were all ready to come into it voluntarily.

our members.

Our founders so early as the year 1690, issued this important advice to all their members and fellow professors. It is to be found in the printed epistle of London Yearly Meeting for that year:

"We earnestly advise and exhort all young and unmarried Friends, that they do not make any procedure one with another upon the account of marriage without first applying to parents or guardians for their consent and agreement therein. And we also advise, that, in the first place, all young persons concerned, seriously wait upon the Lord for counsel and clearness in this weighty concern, before they make any procedure any forward or uncertain affections in this great concern; to their own hurt, the grief of their friends, and the dishonor of

with any, in order to marriage; that they may not be led by

Truth."

This was a serious time for our fathers who had seceded from the various religious bodies of their native land, and were striving to find the Divine Guidance in the conduct of life in all its particulars, and very especially in the grave and solemn act of marriage-the step in human life which is so vital to happiness and usefulness, and to growth in religious development, as to require to be entered upon with greatest circumspection-calling in the

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religious care and watchfulness of parents in the early stages of the proceeding, and seeking heavenly help before taking any irrevocable steps. But this was not held sufficient. They must announce the intended union to their Monthly Meeting or meetings, for its or their sanction, and in order to give opportunity for any reasonable protest. There must be no secrecy.

In the actual accomplishment of the marriage, which must be in the usual week day meeting, it was directed that the marriage covenant be equal, and that the promises made be simple, reasonable, and truthful.

After, the marriage was to be carefully recorded, it has been entered upon by the parties without the agency of priest or magistrate, by their own act, in the presence of a religious meeting of their brethren and sisters whose names were affixed to the marriage certificate, it is complete and admirable in every particular, and curiously enough, English law was early made conformable to it, as is that of our own country in many if not all the States.

But we, in these times, look back with dismay to the unsparing policy of disownment which followed any "outgoing in marriage "—and which deprived the Church of so much of its strength both in the earlier and in the later days. To unite in honorable marriage with a person not in membership with Friends was prompt excommunication for the offender. Notice this legislation of London Yearly Meeting in the year 1752:

"This meeting being sorrowfully affected under the consider ation of divers in our Society entering into marriage with such manner contrary to our established rules, with such as are in profession with us; to prevent which, many minutes directing dealing with such offenders, have from time to time been made; but the said minutes not appearing to extend to parents and guardians, that may be encouraging such marriages; it is therefore the direction of this meeting, when that

as are not in membership with us; or being married, in a

social intercourse with their neighbors who were not of their confession, feeling that they had taken a step which put them in natural opposition to all other Christian Churches of their time. These they held to be apostate from the great verity of verities, that the Kingdom of Heaven is within the human soul, and the voice of God perceptible to the conscious

against them."

The satisfaction given to the Monthly Meeting meant, I suppose, the direct condemnation of the act to which exception was taken by the meeting. It seems likely that rather light acknowledgements may have sufficed in some meetings, and accordingly we find this advice among the deliverances of London Yearly Meeting of 1783:

"As we have great cause to believe, that remissness in dealing, and weakness in some Monthly Meetings in accepting superficial and insincere acknowledgements, have had a great tendency to promote such marriages, we earnestly advise that Monthly Meetings be very careful not to accept acknowledgements without full satisfaction of the sincere repentance of such transgressors, manifested by a conduct circumspect and consistent with our religious profession."

Marriages of first cousins were strictly forbidden by the Discipline as early as 1675, and this rule has never been rescinded by either division of the now divided Church. Friends considered themselves "brought to that spiritual dispensation which gives dominion over the affections." It was believed that the zeal of the members of the early Church of Quakerism was so great as to allow this uncompromising attitude of the body toward its membersbut we find that it greatly diminished membership, and narrowed the bounds of the Society of Friends materially both in the early and the later days. But many might claim that the numerous disownments left the Church more compact and united; the members lopped off, however, suffered much pain and loss in many instances-and we must now acknowledge that it would have been well had the surgical knife of Church Discipline been less radical.

Our fathers well knew or believed they well knew the evils of a mercenary priesthood-and one of their first cares was to testify sternly against it. They would have nothing whatever to do with it, and would permit none of their members to countenance or employ any minister or priest of the Churches in the weighty and solemn act of marriage. It looked to them, in these days of bitter persecution-of persecution made ever more bitter by the influence of the mercenary ministry, that this man made, worldly ministry was entirely evil and never more to be tolerated by the Church and people of God.

The rising Society of Friends was a peculiar people at that time, and it was or appeared certain that a marriage of persons who were not of the same mind as to the requirements of the religious life could not be happy or advantageous to either. The solid, happy and restful home required that the co equal founders, the husband and wife, should be of one mind in regard to the weightiest of all matterstheir duty to God.

people and with hands joined in religious fraternity, they were to dwell apart and not be numbered among the people.

Intermarriage with those of the outside world would mar the unity so essential to the power of the Church and was guarded against with an energy of vigilance that equalled that of Isaac and Rebecca of old, lest their beloved child should take a wife from among the daughters of Heth* (the Canaanites).

The Printed Epistles of London Yearly Meeting, 1777, gives this general advice to the Church :

"Marriage implies union and concurrence, as well in spiritual they stand disunited in the main point; even that which as temporal concerns. Whilst the parties differ in religion, should increase and confirm their mutual happiness, and render them meet helps and blessings to each other.

"To prevent falling into these disagreeable and disorderly engagements, it is requisite to beware the paths that lead to them-the sordid interests and ensnaring friendships of the

world, the contaminating pleasures and idle pastimes of earthly minds; also the various solicitations and incentives to festivity and dissipation; likewise, especially to avoid too frequent and too familiar converse with those from whom may arise a danger of entanglement, by their alluring the passions

and drawing the affections after them.

"For want of due watchfulness and obedience to the convic

tions of divine giace in their consciences, many amongst us, their friends, injured their families, and done great disservice

as well as others, have wounded their own souls, distressed

to the Church by these unequal connections; which have proved an inlet to much degeneracy, and mournfully affected the minds of those who labor under a living concern for the good of all, and the prosperity of Truth upon earth.”

The elaborate marriage arrangements of the Society of Friends were the result of care to avoid, first, marriage by a priest; second, the reproach of want of solemnity and the want of legality. There was much difficulty in the earliest times in maintaining complete order. "The loose ones of the world would sometimes stand up and take themselves in marriage in Friends meetings," and certificates and registers were at first not always kept. Means were taken to remedy all difficulties, and as early as 1653, Barebone's Parliament legalized a marriage form acceptable to Friends. The Protector's Parliament confirmed the Act in the year 1656. During this time it was customary to be twice married; that is, the Quaker marriage must be confirmed or repeated before a magistrate.

Said George Fox, who held firmly to the religious character of marriage: "We marry none, but are witnesses of it. Marriage is God's joining, not man's." It is of interest to note that the Marriage Ceremony of Friends, is that prescribed by the French Directory, with very slight variation. It was also the simple service of the Puritans, and the Friends. are the only Church which handed it down to modern times.

* The children of Heth were the Hittites whose dominion was north of Palestine. A people often mentioned in the