SUNDAY CIRCLE.

DEVOTIONAL. There is No Unbelief. There is no unbelief; Whoever plants a seed beneath thio sod And waits to see it push away tho clod Ho trusts in God. Whoever says, when clouds are in the sky. Be patient, heart; light breaketh by-and-bye." Trusts the Most High. Whoever sees, 'neath winter's fields of snow, The silent harvest of the future grow, God's power must know. Whoever lies down on his couch to sleep, Content to lock each sense in slumber deep, Knows God will keep. Whoever says, " To-morrow," "The Unknown," "The Future," trusts the power alone He dares disown. Tho heart that looks on when the eyelids close, And dares to live when life has only woes, God's comfort knows. There is no unbelief; And day by day, and night, unconsciously, The heart l:ves by that faith tho lips deny— God knoweth why. —Edward Bulwer Lytton. Reading: Isaiah lviii; Verso for Meditation: 6. Is not thiis tho fast that I have chosen? to loose the bandJ of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Opprcssjon, carried on with worldlv policy and order, clothes itself with the name of justice and becomes like a seed of discord in the soul. Oppression in the extreme appears terrible, but oppression in more refined appearances remains to be oppression, and when tho smallest degree of it is cherished, it grows stronger and more extensive. To labour for a perfect redemption from this spirit of oppression is tha great business of the whole family of Christ Jesus in this world. —John Woolman. Consider whether, even supposing it guiltless, luxury would be desired by any of us if we 6aw clearlv ftt our sides the suffering which accompanies it in tho world. Luxury is indeed possible in the future — innocent and exquisite; lukury for all, and by the help of all; but luxury at present can only be enjoyed by the ignorant; the cruellest man living could not sit at his feast unless he sat blindfold. Raise the veil boldly; face tho light; and if, as yet. the light of the eye can only be through tears and the light of the body, through sackcloth, go thou forth weeping, bearing precious seed, until the time come and the kingdom, when Christ's gift of bread and bequest of peace shall be "Unto this last as unto thee."—John Ruskin. God, in judging us, will not ask, " What has thou done for thy soul?" but "What hast thou done for the souls of others, for the sister souls which I have given thee?" The curse of Cain is upon him who does not feel himself the guardian of his brother. We ought to elevate ourselves by elevating our brothers; to purify ourselves by disclosing to them the way to eternal truth and beauty.—Joseph Mazzini.

Meditation. PHILOSOPHY OF PAIN. Both pleasures and pains intensified aro the concomitants of culture. High-thinking, whenever that comes about, must face the certainty of some counterpart of refined suffering. Life is more difficult in its higher phases. All sharpened enjoyments have their keen reversions. Does the fact furnish a motive against refinement of the finesse of civilisation? The ox is happy when he is full of 6tover, but who wants his place? Mills says, "Better a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied." It is a sign of nobility to be able to measure the force of life's inescapable shafts. It is a sign of strength to be able to stand erect and receive them one by one, and at the same time to keep one's self in hand with, reserve of energy, and ready for concentration on the -work of tho hour. We do not understand how there cxn be such a state as sheer misery unrelated to an orderly 6cheme. Pain is not always an effect, th© cause of which ought to be removed. Tho surgeon's knife ought not to be taken away for that reason. It deals in futures. Its physical good consequence is a beneficence—and a beneficence is ethical. Pain must have some of its reasons, therefore, in its reflex values. In its direct action it is not at all desirable. The impulse to escape it is as deep-seated as the capacity itself It does not assuage its own asperity. It drives on, rather, to an intolerable torment. There is not a particle of sweet in its bitterness. Its direct influence is to stir the powers radically to get away_ from it. A part of the secret of happiness is at that particular point. "Convulsions and contagions are challenges. The life powers which survive them m-ust bo sinewy. Physically we are never 6trong to resist these enemies, unless wo are fortified beforehand by irugality and healthful industry and habitual obedience to the laws of healthful living. The whole discipline admonishes to farsightedness. The good of it is not in itself, but tho dynamic of its banishment. It is the . whip toward an ascendant vitality.—William Riley Halstead (A Cosmic View of Religion).

Exhortation. CHBISTXAN DUTY. There is creeping into the world an uneasy sense that we must, if we are to be happy, share our happiness. It is not that the philosopher is hungry, it is that he cannot ■bear to think of all the other people who are condemned to hunger . . . . because there is a spirit of sympathy growing up which has not yet beconic self-sacrifice, but it is on its way to become so. Then we must ask ourselves what is our duty. Not, I think, with all our comforts about us, to chant loud odes about its being all right with the world, but to see what we can do to make it right, to equalise, to share, to give. Christianity, in so far as it is a system at all, is tho purest kind of Socialism, a Socialism not of compulsion, but of disinterestedness. . . . The really amazing thing is that such immense numbers of people have accepted Christianity . . . . " and profess themselves Christians who never regaid Christian principles at all.—A. C. Benson (Joyous Gard).

ABOUT PEOPLE.

Rev. F. ,B. Meyer has been ordered by a leading Kondon physician, to take three months' absolute rest and change. Mr Meyer is assured that there is no organic mischief,' but he is thoroughly overstrained in every way, and it is absolutely imperative that ho must give up his public work for three months.

Dr Van Dyke' 6 appointment as Unitedi States Minister to the Netherlands is not to terminate his connection with Princeton. Tho trustees of the University have unanimously declined to accept his resignation, and will retain him on their " faculty list " as professor of English on indefinite leave ot' absence.

Dr John Skinner, principal of Westminster College, Cambridge, has been choscn by tho Board of Nomination of the Presbyterian Church of England as Moderator of the next Synod, which meets in London in May. Dr Skinner, who has occupied tho Chair of Old Testament Language and Literature at the college since 1890, succeeded the late Dr Dykes as principal five years ago.

Tho Second Prcsbyteria.n Church at Chicago is still trying to induce Dr Parkes Cadma-n. of Brooklyn, to become its minister. It is said to have offered him a stipend of £2EOO per annum. The idea that a big salary would tempt Dr Cadman to leave his great church at Brooklyn and change his denomination is regarded as amusing by those who know Dr Cadman.

Aberdeen rejoices at the prospect of providing another moderator for one of the great churches of Scotland. Recently it gnve Principal Iverach to the United Free Church, and there seems every likelihood that Professor Niool will be its next gift to the Established Church. No moderator of this church has been taken from tho rtovthem city since 18S2, when the late Professor Milligan was appointed, although more recently Professor Cowan had the opportunity of declining the honour. Some six years ago. also, the honour wa6 conferred upon a former Aberdeen minister. Dr Mitford Mitchell.

Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian port who has been awarded the Nobel prize for literature, ■which amounts to nearly* £8000. is just over 50 years of ape, and enjovs_ a reputation throughout India as poet, philosopher, and educational reformer. Scyoral volumes of his poetry have been published in English; the latest is called "The Oard< ner." though it consists of lyrics written earlier than those in a previous volume, " Gitoniali.'" Two additional books are announced to appear immediately. Rahindranat.h Tagore was in London during the par-t summer, and lectured on religious eul> jeets at Oaxton Hall, aa well as at Oxford.

RELIGIOUS READING FOR THE HOME.

Yet, on his return voyage to India, ho natl to complain of out-going missionaries who ultimpted to "convert" hiin

Queen Wilhelmina of Holland sent a ;tr'king message to the meeting of the Continuation Committee of the World Missionary Conference, held at The Hague under Hi- Mott's presidency. The Queen said it gave her pleasure to declare her affinity of soul with the great task of the committee. " M.v earnest, wish," shO'% added, "is that (ho spirit of unity of all followers of Christ, members of His invisible community, n:ay gain in intensity, and that our Saviour may direct our hearts and develop the strength of our oombinc-d prayer. May our zeal lie irspired and sanctified, and may we all be fitted for the several vocations to which Christ calls us individually, so that the ;im of His truth may ehinu over the whole world, shedding iight in the darkness of human misery, and gladdening the hearts of all mankind with the incffablo richness of Ilis Divine I.ove 1"

FROM ALL SOURCES

The Chinese Government having accepted the Christian calendar, Sunday is now observed as a. day of rest in all public offices.

The now Young Men's Christian Association building in Boston is said to bo the finest structure of the kind in the world. The first day it was opened 20,000 guests were hospitably received in it.

It is reported that the Lord's Day is much better observed at the White House, Washington, since its occupancy by President Wilson, than it has been for some years. This is what would be expected'cf a good Presbyterian elder, the son of a Presbyterian minister.

According to statistics published in American papers, the Universalist denomination is rot making progress. In the year 1905 this denomination included 980 parishes; now it has only 861. Its ordained ministry has meanwhile dropped in total. The lay membership has not declined in proportion, yct.it numbers to-day only 54,226, where it stood at 54,325 10 years' ago.

Mr Robert E. Speer, writing of present conditions in the Chinese Republic, says: "There is nothing in history with which this upheaval and reconstruction can be compared. . . . Like the Crusaders, the Revolution in China has broken up the stagnation of the- past, liberated men's minds from iron-bound traditions, given wider knowledge of other peoples, wakened new aspirations, and so changed the conditions which have hitherto repressed truth and liberty that it has made possible a better era."

The Mormons are so encouraged by the success of their propaganda in Canada that they are looking forward to the time when Cardston, their headquarters in 'Southern Alberta, will be the centre of a settlement rivalling in size and influence that of Salt Lake City. With a view to providing for such future developments, they are building at Cardston u million-dollar temple, planned according to the fullest Mormon ritual, and containing "sealed rooms" for the performance of the most important ceremonies. Hitherto Canadian Mormons have had to undertake the journey to Utah m order to participate in these rites. No expense will be spared in the embellishment of the Cardston temple. One room, for instance, will be so decorated as to represent, in oils and water-colours, the earth as it was before. sin entered the world. Another will illustrate the consequences of tho Fall, showing trees gnarled and misshapen, rocks rent, beasts contending in deadly strife, thorns and weeds abounding everywhere, and a raging storm in tho distance.

President Woodrow Wilson recently issued his firet Thanksgiving Day proclamation. According to custom, it designated the last Thursday in November for this national celebration. It noted that the year thai has just passed has been marked in a special degree by manifestation of , God's " gracious and beneficent providence." Wf have not only had peace throughout our own borders and with the nations of the world, but that peace has been brightened by constantly multiplying evidences of genuine friendship, of mutual sympathy and understanding, and of the happy operation of many elevating influences both of ideal and of practice. ..." Righteousness

exalteth a nation," and " Peace on earth, goodwill towards men," furnish the only foundation upon •which can be built the lasting achievements of the human spirit. The year has brought us the satisfaction of work well done, and freeh visions of our duty, which will make the work of the future better still. President Wilson invited his fellow countrymen, on the 27th inst., "to cease from their wonted occupations, and in their several homes and places of worship render thanks to Almighty God."

THE CHURCH'S FIRST TASK.

A CALL FOR EVANGELISM. Tho Congregational Union of England and Wales, at its Southend meetings, impressed by a senso of the need there is for the churches to devote themselves as their first task to the salvation of souls, and to 'bring home to all Church members the imperative clailn of the Christian Church, passed a resolution affectionately and earnestly urging these duties upon the churches. "It urges," the resolution ran, " that everything possible should bo done to enlist the allegiance of the young who are trained in our Sunday 6tfhools, and it respectfully suggests that in the preaching of the coming months there should be a continuous and sustained effort to bring men and women to a definite decision for Christ It believes that such a course of action, under the blessing of God, would result in a great increase in membership, which -would enable us to face with courage and confidence the great tasks to which God is calling us. A copy of this resolution has been sent to every pastor and church secretary by tho secretary of the Congregational Union (Rev. R. J. Wells), with a request that it should be communicated to each church either from the pulpit or at a church meeting. In his covering letter Mr Wells writes: May I earnestly and affectionately ask for your serious consideration of this proposal? We must all desire supremely the extension of Christ's Kingdom. Amid the multiplicity of modern demands is may possibly bo that we have grown Ires urgent in pleading for decision for Christ than otherwise we should have been. There is an increasing feeling that if only the Church is alive to her opportunity, the time is ripe f<4r a great gathering of souls. Men and 'women and young people are waiting and hesitating. We feel tfhat earnest, prayerful, and continuous appeals will bring many of these to decision, and do much to enlarge tho powers and the usefulness of the Church of our Lord.

MIGHTY ISSUE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN CHINA.

Christian missionaries of all names in China arc deeply exercised over the sudden and surprising development of a deep laid plan to force into the constitution of the new Chinese Republic a clause reading: "Confucianism shall bo the State religion of China, but religious liberty shall be accorded to all the people." The missionaries have been quite taken off their feet by this outbreak of Confucian sentiment, because from the moment that the republican movement became.an assured success, every one had taken it for granted that the national government, constructed on American models, would be wholly impartial among the varying religions professed in China. But Dr Chen, who is widely known in China as the author of a book entitled " Tlie Economic Prnciples of Confucius and His School," had all the while been organising under ground a conspiracy in behalf of Confucianism almost a® wilv and ns complete as Dr Run in former years organised for tho republican revolution. When the Parliament in Peking decided to draft now only those sections of the national constitution necessary to provide for tho inauguration of President Yuan, leaving all other matters to be discussed later, Dr Clkii saw his opportunity, and all unexpectedly spran? upon the Parliament a concerted appeal from many influential quarters for the adoption of the clause above quoted. Dr Oh"n disclaims any intention of excluding Christians from public, service, yet insists nevertheless that Confucianism is the only cult on which Chinese sentiment, at large can be unified. But, he has by no means unhorsed the advocates of a State religiously impartial. Though <!nz«d 'nt first, the friends of the American ideal of religious freedom have ral'ied and ar>noirted a strong committee of seven, with beidnuarters in Peking, who are already setting afoot a <rreat national agitation to protest against Chen's shrewd propaganda.