The vestry has been advised by him in the management of the affairs of the church with good judgment and wisdom. He has advised strong measures where needed, yet has he counselled mildness and patience where many of us were perhaps in favor of too harsh methods, and we look with pride upon the church which he has so firmly built up. It has been a rare privilege to us to work with him and under his guidance, and we will ever strive to carry on the work, under his successor, as he would have us do.

To Mrs. McKnight, who for all these years, as the rector's wife, has ministered to his people, making them also her people, we would express in some small measure the love and sympathy which we feel toward her; and to the children, who have grown up to manhood and womanhood among us, we would say the words of comfort which he has so many times brought to us in the hour of our own sorrows.

REV. GEORGE WILSON FERGUSON, M.A.

After the Burial Office of the late rector of

Trinity church, Ossining, N. Y., on St. Stephen's Day, the bishop coadjutor of the diocese appointed a committee to prepare a minute on the passing of this revered priest to Paradise. The Rev. George Wilson Ferguson, M.A., having graduated from Columbia College in 1863, and from the General Theological Seminary in 1866, was ordained deacon in July of that year; and priest in 1867, by the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D. Having served for a while as assistant to the Rev. Eugene A. Hoffman, D.D., in Grace church, Brooklyn, N. Y., he became rector of Emmanuel parish, Otego, N. Y., and later of Grace church, Waterford, N. Y. Officiating for a short time in Trinity parish, New York City, he was called to be rector of Trinity, Sing Sing, now Ossining, Westchester county, N. Y., in February, 1872. For nearly thirty-four years he has efficiently served his people, who have been increasingly devoted to his person and ministry. From a small congregation and a modest frame church building there has grown a large and influential parish, with an imposing stone church. The last few months, a chaste and dignified parish house and cloister have been rearing, in memory of a faithful woman of this church. These buildings will be the crowning of the material structures in the parish for God's worship and work, as they are a fit monument to his cherished memory and faithful ministry. Those who have known this priest departed from boyhood, classmates in school, college and seminary, may be allowed to give their tribute of loving appreciation of his worth; and a just estimate of his character and work. As a man he was conscientious, diligent and true. In his exalted faith in the divine nature of the Church, her ministry, order, liturgy and sacraments, he was a loyal son. As a priest he was consecrated and devoted. In ministering to his people, he was tender, loving and just. With his own dear ones, chastened and stricken, we mourn his loss, but rejoice that he was "faithful unto death." He has "fought a good fight."

May he have peace and rest in the "garden of delights," and find, when the blessed Lord will, "everlasting joy and felicity," among the saints in the Church triumphant.

FREDERICK B. VAN KLEECK,
RANDALL COOKE HALL,
WILLIAM FISHER LEWIS.

COLONEL BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WATSON.

Colonel Watson, who entered "the Saints' Everlasting Rest,' on the evening of Thursday, Dec. 21, 1905, at his home on Park avenue, New York, was born in Warner, N. H., on April 30, 1826. In 1850 he was called to the Massachusetts Bar, afterwards becoming editor and proprietor of the Lawrence Sentinel, and postmaster of Lawrence.

Very much has been written of the services he rendered his country during the Civil War. He was one of the first to enlist, and he served in the army until Oct. 1, 1864. His connection with the stirring events of April, 1861, is thus described in a brief notice recently published: "Colonel Watson gave the first order that led to the shedding of blood in the Civil War; the first men wounded were in his immediate command, and his regiment was the first to

arrive at Washington and protect that city from impending capture by the Confederate troops marching upon it.

The Sixth Massachusetts Militia Regiment, of which Mr. Watson was then the major, had offered its services for the war as early as Jan. 21, 1861, and on April 15 it received the order to muster in at Boston. On the evening of Jan, 18 Major Watson slept at the Continental House, Philadelphia, which his regiment had already reached on its way to Washington. The next morning at Baltimore occurred the first skirmish of the war, the Federal troops affected being under Major Watson's personal command and receiving the order to fire from him. The troops were to be marched across the city, and rearmost companies, including Company K, were assaulted and the remaining companies were blocked, so that the whole regiment had to detrain and march across the city, fighting an infuriated mob. Early in May Major Watson was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and served in that capacity with the regiment until Oct. 1, 1864, when he resigned his commission simultaneously with the third mustering out."

"

In 1867 Colonel Watson was admitted to the New York Bar, where he continued to practice until his retirement a few years ago. As a lawyer he was distinguished for superb intellectual gifts, to which he added the habit of infinite, careful, minute painstaking and patience. His work was always so perfectly prepared; all the facts were SO completely mastered; and the law relating to them so aptly arranged, that he rarely lost a case. Thoroughness was one of the characteristics of his long practice. He gave himself, for the time being, absolutely to his clients' interests. His legal battles were fought with the courage, tenacity, tact and prescience of a soldier.

The same devotion which he displayed in his profession was prominent in his many years of work for the Church. As a vestryman of Zion parish he took a very active part in parochial matters, being chairman of the music committee and one of the leaders in boys' clubs in some of the most congested localities of the city. In 1890, when Zion church was amalgamated with St. Timothy's, he became a member of the vestry of the new parish, and although he retired from office at the end of two years he retained the deepest and most helpful interest in it, and in all branches of its ever increasing energies, his advancing age not lessening his ardor in the least.

From its inception until the day of his death he was an enthusiastic member of the Church Temperance Society. Realizing that youth is the period when habits may be so formed that later they will become second nature, he organized the order of "Knights of Temperance," giving to it immense thought and a large proportion of his time, especially when he had retired from the practice of his profession. This order has been the means of guiding many in the way of right; of drafting strong young men into the Church; and adding some of them to the Christian ministry. This, however, was only one phase of the important work of the Church Temperance Society in which his manly influence was supremely felt. It was felt to the he extent all through; steadily, fearlessly, intelligently set in the direction of right; andno matter what the contention-finally making for peace on the basis of justice and truth. His superb gifts as a clear, vigorous writer and eloquent, magnetic speaker, contributed largely to the success of whatever he undertook.

In private life Colonel Watson was conspicuous for cordiality, good comradeship, courtesy and faithfulness. He loved his friends, taking unbounded pleasure in their society; and his friends responded with the unreserved love that was born of their confidence in him. By reason of his promotion to the Church Expectant the Church Militant has been called upon to give up a strong, brave, loyal soldier of Jesus Christ, through and through a man of honor and noble purpose. The extent of the loss to us who are left here a little while cannot be estimated. It is very great!

H. L.

ALEXANDER WOOD GAY.

On Christmas night, Alexander Wood Gay, editor of Freight, passed to his eternal rest, after an illness lasting but a few hours. Mr. Gay was a man of brilliant attainments and of sterling integrity, and, moreover, a loyal friend. A hater of sham and a lover of truth, of a generous nature and happy temperament, he made friends where he moved, and enemies never. He was a fearless and finished writer; he had a wonderful grasp of the subjects upon which he wrote, and while editor of Freight the compliment was paid him of being consulted on traffic questions by the best informed traffic managers and shippers in the country.

Mr. Gay was born at Tompkins Cove, Rockland county, N. Y., thirty-six years ago, and after graduation from St. John's School, Óssining, N. Y., in 1888, he took a special course in Columbia College. After leaving Columbia he received an appointment on the Tribune staff, where he remained for several years, rising from reporter to the important position of copy editor. He became financial editor of The New York Press, and later was dramatic editor for the same paper. Subsequently he founded the magazine Cold Storage, and two years later became editor of Freight.

He was the son of the late Rev. Ebenezer Gay, who for many years was at the head of the House of the Good Shepherd, at Tompkins Cove, N. Y., and who was otherwise prominent in church work. He was a direct descendant of John Gay, of Massachusetts, who was a poet and a man of the highest literary attainments and reputation. Mr. Gay was a member of the University Glee Club and was a finished musician, both on the piano and great organ; also the composer of a number of musical compositions. For many years he sang in the choir of Trinity church, New York City.

Four years ago he married Miss Edith De Fontaine, who, with his mother, Mrs. Josephine H. Gay, and one child, survive him.

"Who dies in youth and vigor dies the best."

WILLIAM I. JONES.

Extract from the minutes of a meeting of the vestry of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church, Monongahela City, Penn., Dec. 27, 1905.

On motion,

Resolved: That the rector, wardens and vestrymen of St. Paul's church, Monongahela City, Penn., desire to record their deep feeling of loss in the death of their late friend and associate, William I. Jones. Having served as a member of the vestry for a number of years, his wise counsel and sound judgments have done much for the glory of the Church, and his loss will be felt by all with whom he has been associated. The interest of the Church and Sunday-school was always nearest his heart, and his pleasure was to do good service in whatever his hands found to do. It may well be said of him, "Well done, good and faithful servant,' " for his example as a good Christian will live after him, and his works will follow him.

Resolved: That a copy of this minute be forwarded to the family of Mr. Jones, with the personal sympathy of the members of this vestry, and that it be also published in an early issue of THE CHURCHMAN.

EUGENIA LYON

died of pneumonia, at the home of her sister, Mrs. Deas, 48 West Forty-eighth street, New York City, Nov. 13, 1905.

There never was a finer demonstration of "spirit" as the essential force in this world's work than was presented in Eugenia Lyon's life. Of feeble constitution always, her last years were conspicuous in the calmness of that strength which, accepting human ills as a part of the day's work, moves cheerfully and steadily on to the goal it has set itself to reach, and that goal was to each day her share to develop here as much of the "peace which passeth all understanding" as human nature and necessity can attain.

Born and reared in Demopolis, she died the last representative in that community of a name and influence which, from its beginnings in the early days of the last century, had always stood for high courage in the maintenance of the right, and tactful wisdom in the development of those strong but gracious traits with which life must be clothed if it is to be lived as a power to the possessor and a support to the less fortunate who labor to the same end. Selfeffacement disclosed the more clearly the workings of a potent factor in the shaping of her own character and that of many men and women born and reared in responsibility as a part of that system of servitude which legally ended half a century ago, yet exists practically in many communities, even to this day. That factor was the obligation of government by example rather than by force, which meant control of self, that control of others might be the more magnanimous, therefore the more complete.

Heart culture in one with such intentions toward life was spontaneous, needing but to find the scope hers did. Her trained and cultivated intellect was ever turned toward the young, and no pleasure was so welcome as that she found in opening up to them the strength and beauties of works they felt appealed to them. And yet above it all was love and devotion to the visible expression of her God, the Body of Christ as given to her in the Anglican Church. She and her people were long the Church in that community, and as it grew in numbers and in strength, the personality that reached deepest and farthest was this gentle soul.

WM. M. P.

DEED, SCOPE, NEED.

Fifty-two dioceses out of 80 depend upon the General Clergy Relief Fund alone for the pensioning and relief of clergy, widows and orphans. Seventy-one dioceses out of 80 receive more in pensions and relief for their beneficiaries than they contribute to the General Fund. THIS IS WORTH THINKING OVER.

Over 450 beneficiaries are on the lists of the General Fund.

Over $600,000 have been distributed in all dioceses by the General Fund during the last thirty years.

If limitations as to locality, or sex, or fees, or retiring age had prevailed, the General Fund might have laid away a million dollars; but at

THE PRICE OF DISTRESS AND BITTERNESS AND HUMILIATION TO THOUSANDS WHO HAVE BEEN HELPED.

"GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.'

Undesignated offerings relieve present need: "designations" go to the "Permanent Fund," or "Automatic Pension at 64," and the like.

For forty years some have been on the pension list of the General Fund.

In merged dioceses some are receiving up to $500. Retiring pension by other than Diocesan and the General Fund is trivial.

PORFEITABLE

Send for "A Plea for a Square Deal," and other circulars.

THE GENERAL CLERGY RELIEF FUND,

The Church House, Philadelphia, Penn. ALFRED J. P. McCLURE, Assistant Treasurer.

BROTHERHOOD OF ST. ANDREW. If readers of THE CHURCHMAN know of any men who might be held or won for God and the Church through the sympathy and friendship of a member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, their names and addresses may be sent to the office of the Council for the United States, Broad Exchange Building, Boston, Mass. Names and addresses sent to the Council, as above, will be forwarded to local chapters in any part of the world. It is suggested that each request be accompanied by as full information as possible, concerning the man upon whose behalf it is made, and that permission be given for the use of the name of the person sending the request as a means of introduction. The names of men leaving home to live as strangers in the large cities are particularly desired.

Correction.

To the Editor of THE CHURCHMAN:

Will you be so good as to insert this cor

rection of an error in the obituary notice of feet, 5 inches in height, thirty-five years

of age, of light complexion and harsh voice, has been endeavoring to secure subscriptions to THE CHURCHMAN and collections in Michigan. He was last reported at Albion.

my old friend and associate, Miss Ellen Kemble, published in your paper of Dec. 30? Miss Kemble's connection with the House of Mercy antedated that of the Sisters of St. Mary by several years. The House of Mercy was founded by Mrs. William Richmond, widow of the first rector of St. Michael's church, Bloomingdale, N. Y., about 1860-1861.

SPECIAL TRAINING for organists and choirmasters preparing for higher positions, or for the profession. Unequalled advantages for studying the cathedral service, organ accompaniment, and boy voice culture. G. EDWARD STUBBS, M.A., Mus. Doc., St. Agnes's Chapel, Trinity Parish, N. Y.

SITUATIONS.

A CLERGYMAN'S DAUGHTER desires a position as Governess, Secretary or Companion. Willing to travel. Best references. Address ANNIS, CHURCHMAN Office.

A GENTLEWOMAN, middle-aged, desires position of trust in private family. Secretary, Companion, experienced Housekeeper. Unexceptionable references. Address A. B. M., Victoria Hotel, Asbury Park, N. J.

AN ENGLISH LADY would like position as Companion; fond of children and glad to be helpful in any way. Address B. B., CHURCHMAN Office.

BRITISH LADY desires position with lady who needs assistance in care of household or children, or as Companion. Musical, useful, cultivated. Best references. Address M., CHURCHMAN Office.

NORTH GERMAN IADY, diplomée (Hanover, Paris), desires engagement. Fluent French, English, German, good music. Highest references from colleges, schools and families. Address "SUCCESSFUL TEACHER," CHURCHMAN Office.

POSITION WANTED as Managing Housekeeper, or to care for an old person. References. Address M. J. H. W., CHURCHMAN Office.

NOTICE.

We are in receipt of advices that a man giving his name as J. H. Conron, about 5

POSITION WANTED by clergyman's daughter in Orphanage, Church House, or any Church Institution. Experienced in care of sick. Address "JANUARY," CHURCHMAN Office.

We beg to advise subscribers and other friends of THE CHURCHMAN that we have no representative answering to this name, or corresponding in any way with him. You are advised not to have any dealings with him, and we shall be grateful for any information concerning him or his present whereabouts.

THE CHURCHMAN COMPANY, Publishers of THE CHURCHMAN.

SITUATIONS.

THOROUGHLY EXPERIENCED Churchwoman, now House-mother in important institution, desires similar position in Day Nursery. Satisfactory reason for changing. Highest testimonials and personal references. Address R. W., CHURCHMAN Office.

TRAINED NURSE as attendant to invalid, No objection to or would take charge of child. travel. Address MISS East NORMAN, 816 146th street, New York.

YOUNG LADY of bright, cheerful disposition, wants position as Companion, or light housework in small family. Address BOX 29, South Sudbury, Mass.

WANTS.

WILL MRS. CORNELL, of Chichester avenue, Richmond Hill L. I., kindly send her present address to MRS. QUIMBY, Bronxville, New York.

WANTED AN INTERESTED YOUNG CHURCHWOMAN IN EVERY PARISH IN THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE SUBSCRIPTIONS ΤΟ THE CHURCHMAN. VERY LIBERAL COMMISSIONS. APPLICATIONS BE MUST ACCOMPANIED BY THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE RECTOR OF THE PARISH.

A PHYSICIAN with all sanatorium appliances, residing below Central Park, New York, eceives one patient ffering from nervous prostration, partial paralysis, or any chronic disease. Address PHYSICIAN, CHURCHMAN Office.

WANTED-Resident teacher of primary and hand-sewing. Neat and orderly. Salary moderate. Address, stating salary and references, ENERGY, CHURCHMAN Office.

BOARD.

BOARD for tourists; good location; golf links. No consumptives. Furnace, baths. Address MISS FRANCES GIBBES, "The Pines," CoReference, Episcopal clergyman. lumbia, S. C.

CHARLESTON, S. C.-Board in private house near Harbor front. Address MISS M. M. McCRADY, 27 Meeting Street.

REFINED PRIVATE FAMILY of adults on Brooklyn Heights, will rent two double rooms with board. References exchanged. Address W., CHURCHMAN Office.

on

THINK OF GOING SOUTH? "The Lexington," Summerland, C., Batesburg, S. the Southern Railroad. A new, modern, family winter home, beautifully located; air invariably dry, no malaria. No more charming place in Southland. Quail hunting. Northern management and service. Booklet. Address "THE LEXINGTON," Summerland, Batesburg, S. C.

RIVERCROFT-A quiet country home with modern comforts and skilled care, for invalid, aged person, child or infant. Graduate Nurse of Johns Hopkins Training School, Baltimore. Booklet, terms and references on application. Address MRS. ALLEN SPEAKMAN, Claymont, Del.

EDUCATIONAL.

A YOUNG MAN with three years' experience in one of leading preparatory schools for boys in Virginia desires position for coming summer as Tutor in Northern family. Would travel. References given. Address JNO. N. WARE, M.A., Winchester, Va.

THE ELIZABETH GENERAL HOSPITAL and Dispensary Training School has a limited number of vacancies for educated women between the ages of 21 and 35. Thorough training in surgical, medical and obstetrical nursing. plomas from this school are recognized in New York State. For circulars of information apply to Training School, Elizabeth General Hospital and Dispensary. Elizabeth, N. J.

Di

Queer enough it seemed to the young fellow, born and brought up in a small hamlet, to see the houses crowded together, with not so much as a spear of grass visible, and the narrow streets full of people, but not stopping to look about him he was soon stopping at Number 37, and stepping into a dark room found himself retailing his adventures to Hedwig's mother. In the midst of his narrative the door burst open, and Hedwig dashed in. Running from one to the other, holding now Heinrich's hands, now those of her mother, she breathlessly told them that she was engaged to do scrubbing at the big house in the market place, owned by Herr von Schwab.

"The housekeeper asked what a chit of a child of fifteen could do, but I begged and begged; and when she sees how I will make the brass knocker shine, and how white I can make the stone steps look, I know she will be satisfied. And oh, Heinrich!" she ran on, "come with me: such carvings you never saw as are in some of the shop windows."

At the word carving, hunger and fatigue were forgotten. Grasping the hand of the girl, he hurried forth and was led to a window lighted from within, for it was growing dark.

Motionless he stood, as if in a trance, until Hedwig, touching his elbow, asked:

"Why don't you speak? Don't you like them?"

"Like them, child! It is the work I have dreamed of. But listen, Hedwig, as good as that and better too I shall do some day; but I must work, oh! how I must work, and while I am learning, I shall go on making watch frames and salad spoons and toy houses to have money enough to live on. I will tell thee, Hedwig, thy mother must let me live with her, and I will help with the rent. There is no need to go farther; all I want is here."

And so it was settled. Even in his native village there had been a peculiar charm in Heinrich's work, and in Greifenzell he soon found a ready sale for all he could do. Turning from the regulation subjects, he began to design what appealed to him, and a demand arose for carvings marked with the letter H, on which appeared the face of a young girl with long braids, or a procession of geese, each one as individual as if taken from life, or a bunch of violets among their leaves. As time went on the face of the girl grew older, but there was always the same beauty of expression.

Three years passed. Heinrich was now twenty-one and Hedwig eighteen. The rooms in the Kleingasse, grown too small for their needs, must be given up. Heinrich required a large, well-lighted workshop. This they found in a house close by the city wall. Cluster-roses clambered about the trellised windows, and the garden, under Hedwig's care, was full of the gayest of flowers. Within and without she was ever busily employed, happy to serve those she loved, instead of going among strangers.

Meanwhile Heinrich's designs began to attract attention outside of Greifenzell. Moreover, Prince Siegfried, spending the summer in his castle on the

DEPARTMENT.

that she could wait no longer, Heinrich Finally, one morning, when it seemed threw open the casement window looking upon the garden where she stood among her poppies, white, pink, scarlet, such a mass of them, waving in the breeze.

"Come," he called; "it is finished." Bowing before her as he unlocked the a chest, a bridal door, he pointed to chest, with elaborate carvings on its four sides.

Hedwig entered, and kneeling before the chest read the story of her own life. The flowers she most loved formed the garlands, and there was her face, first as a little girl, and then as she looked now. On the top, in the midst of bunches of violets, was a smooth panel, presumably for the monograms of some bridal pair.

"Heinrich," she cried, "who has ordered this wonderful chest? You have never done anything half so beautiful."

"It is for the prettiest girl in all Greifenzell," Heinrich said, smiling. "Then it is for Fräulein von Schwab."

"No," was the reply, "it is for a prettier girl than Fräulein von Schwab."

"Then it must be for the Princess Erica!" she cried, eagerly.

"No," answered Heinrich; "it is for a prettier girl even than the Princess Erica," and taking her hand he led her

to the mirror.

"There she stands," he said; "but she cannot have the chest unless she takes

me also."

All this happened many years ago. Heinrich and Hedwig and their children and their children's children are sleeping in the churchyard, but the chest is still shown to all who come to Greifenzell, for Heinrich's name became a fa

mous

one throughout all the land.

The Winners in the
Riddle Contest.

T

been HIS Riddle Contest has something like the fabled race between the hare and the tortoise. The guessers who have stuck to the riddles the longest have come out ahead in the end. We have sixty-nine names of guessers in our Riddle Record Book. Thirty-five of these were lively little hares, who raced for one month and then took a nap by the wayside. They did not all race in the same month; we have new names on our list even in December, and we are sorry that the late comers started with so heavy a handicap. Others raced two, three, four, five, six, eight, nine, and ten months. Eight

HIS picture illustrates two lines of a well-known poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. Write the name of the poem, and the two special lines of poetry on a sheet of paper, with your own name, age, and

Τ

raced eleven months, and three kept up a steady trot during the whole long

year.

We have decided to give four prizes: two to the boys, and two to the girls. Out of 75 riddles, HENRY HOYT CARPENTER, Brighton, Mass., guessed 69; SARA CUTLER GREENE, Wickford, R. I., guessed 66; LESLIE JOY WHITEHEAD, Montmorency Falls, Canada, guessed 64; ROBERT V. K. HARRIS, Red Hook, N. Y., guessed 62. The first prize for boys, therefore, goes to HENRY HOYT CARPENTER, the second to ROBERT V. K. HARRIS. The first for girls goes to SARA CUTLER GREENE, the second to LESLIE JOY WHITEHEAD. The winners of the first prizes were guessing twelve months; the winners of the second prizes eleven months. Of these four, the best guesser is Leslie Joy Whitehead, as she missed only five riddles in eleven months; but the prizes must go to those who guessed the greatest number of riddles, and therefore Leslie comes third on the list.

Guessers who deserve special mention because they guessed over fifty riddles, are: Margaret Douglass Gordon, 61; Mary A. Johnson, 59; Margaret L. Beers, 58; Beatrice Lynch, 58; Katharine V. R. Crosby, 54; Eleanor H. Bailey, 54; Mary Bailey, 53; Edith Lloyd Dorothea Tatum, 51.

Margaret Gordon has sent us each month rhymed answers, and we are printing her December rhymes, because they make such a pretty ending for this

Riddle.

Though my complexion is black as pitch
I am above the proud and rich?
Answer.

I am the silk hat, round and tall,
And I look down on one and all.
Riddle.
The doctor, and the doctor's wife,
The druggist, and his niece,
They ate nine eggs together,
Which made three eggs apiece?
Answer.
The doctor's wife was the druggist's
niece,

And so, as you may see, They ate nine eggs together, When they sat down to tea.

Riddle.

A yellow flower within white walls,
White, without a stain;

A flower precious enough to give
To the King of Spain?

Answer. The white of an egg is a funny place For the yellow yolk to stick in; And I guess it will turn to chickenfeathers

When the yelk turns to a chicken.

EPILOGUE.

The snowflakes blew against the panes,
Like birds that had lost their way;
Over the convent cell and tower

The heavy clouds hung gray.
The land was white for many miles,
The drifts were heaping high,
When little Juan Peregil

Bade the kind old monk good-by.

"You have taught me much in this year," he said,

"Of the lessons of little things:

Of why the mulberry grows red,

Of why the river sings;

Of why the sparks fly from the fire,
Of why the letters grow
Black flowers upon a field of white,
Of why the North winds blow.

"And much I thank you for them all,
For the happiness of this year;
And many joys I wish to you,

As the New Year bells ring clear. And this is the wish I would give to

you-
May you as happy be

For all the days of the coming year,
As last year you made me.'

""

Business News and Notes, IMPORTANT MOVEMENT IN

ADVERTISING.

The creation of a General Advertis

ing Department for the New York Central Lines, and the placing in charge of that department the veteran railroad advertiser, George H. Daniels, who has been for nearly twenty years the General Passenger Agent of the New York Central Railroad, marks an era in the history of advertising in America.

The New York Central Lines are the first great system to create an advertising department which covers all the railways in their system, and the farreaching consequences of such a movement cannot be appreciated at first sight, but this action on the part of the management of these lines emphasizes the value of advertising generally, and forces the conclusion of a strong belief in the efficacy of railroad advertising in particular.

Mr. Daniels has for many years been a firm believer in newspaper and magazine advertising, and, therefore, the organization of the General Advertising Department of the New York Central Lines is of importance to every legitimate publication in America, daily, weekly or monthly.

Every legitimate newspaper and magazine publication in America will have a direct interest in the General Advertising Department of the New York Central Lines, and every advertising agent on the continent will take a new lease of life because of this endorsement of the value of advertising.

THE CHOIR.

Choir and Congregational
Singing.

A correspondent sends the following: "One reason that church-going is on the decline is, I think, the excessive amount of over-elaborate music which is forced upon us by indifferent choirs. In fact, the choir has nearly defeated its own end, and, instead of being an attraction, is becoming the reverse, as it practically monopolizes the service. I am a fair organist, with a good knowledge of 'singable' tunes and chants; but in nineteen out of twenty churches that I go to I am compelled to listen to the beautiful canticles screamed out to a modern setting by some unknown student of harmony, and am expected to let the choir have the psalms and the majority of the hymns. Indeed, I often wish we could hear the psalter read in our met

ropolitan churches, and I believe that any good preacher who would start a simpler system of musical service would find he soon had a large congregation. All this music, with its endless 'repeats,' makes the service unduly and unneces

sarily long, and matters are certainly not mended by the dreadful drawl which is called 'intoning.' If our clergy would realize that congregations like to hear the sound of the natural human voice, either the clergyman's or their own, and that fourth-class sacred concerts in church are not always acceptable substitutes for devotional and intellectual worship, there would be less complaints about diminishing numbers in city churches."

This is a very sweeping statement, and we doubt if opinion will be unanimous on the subject. As regards the intoning, it will probably be conceded that our correspondent is right, as the priest's part in the choral service is seldom performed adequately, and it contributes neither to gratification nor worship. But in reference to the so-called "sacred concerts" we think that he is wrong, and the large congregations which assemble at musical services tend to disprove his contention. However, there is much truth in the statement that the congregation is deprived of its legitimate part in the service, and some reform is necessary in this direction. The remedy is to

some extent in the hands of the composers of church music. Some time ago it was stated in this department that there was suitable music for choir and congregation, and several compositions were named. There is no doubt that the people have a right to their part in the service. As long as elaborate "settings" of the canticles are sung, the people are excluded; furthermore, most of the music which the congregation can sing, as hitherto provided, has not been of a character to render the musical portion of the service as attractive or as artistic as it should be. We believe that an attempt was made by Canon Harford some time ago to provide a Te Deum containing parts elaborate enough to interest the choir and portions (Responsoria) plain enough to be easily sung by the people. An experiment was made in one of the large churches in England, the result being eminently satisfactory. The composition was, however, not published, so far as we are aware. There is traditional authority for such music. The idea was started by St. Ambrose at Milan, 1500 yaers ago, when, the Council of Laodicea having decided that none but the Psalmistae, or professional singers, should take part in the musical portion of the service, Ambrose took umbrage at the idea of the people being thus shut out from the laudatory parts of the service, and devised the idea of what he called "Responsoria Psalmorum," which gave certain parts to the people, and left other parts for the choir. This custom, as far as concerns the modern church, has fallen into desuetude, and Canon Harford's "Te Deum" was an attempt to restore the practice of giving their proper part of the service to the people. At any rate, this idea might

THE COVENANT KEEPER. Every Promise in the Bond Kept to the Letter.

About coffee the Rev. Frederick Lippe, Presbyterian minister, P. O., Osage county, Mo., says:

"I most gratefully testify that every promise made in your Postum advertisements has been completely and You can promptly fulfilled in my case. publish this if you wish, and I stand ready to vouch for it at any time.

"After three days' use of Postum I could find no difference so far as taste and flavor went, between it and the old kind of coffee. preferred it to coffee. After two weeks' use I

"After three weeks I lost my nervousness, the insomnia which had troubled me was entirely relieved, and I began to enjoy the best and finest of sleep every night-and that condition still continues.

"After two months' use I got rid of my dyspepsia and piles, and they have not returned to plague me.

"Neither nor any of my family would to-day think for a moment of going back to the old kind of coffee. When we entertain we give coffee to our guests, but we drink Postum ourselves, not only for its nutritive properties, but because it has become a truly delicious beverage to us.

"I feel that common gratitude requires this testimony from me.”

There's a reason. Read the little book, "The Road to Wellville," in packages.

N. B.-Agreeable to promise we state that the hand shown in the magazines belongs to Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Post.