these words he was arrested, and postponed the fatal deed, to inquire into the secret of this man's happiness. Next day he met Matheson, to whom he told the story of the preceding night. "Do you know who the singer was?" asked the missionary. "No," was the reply. "Well," said the other, "it was I;" on which the tears rushed into the soldier's eyes, and he requested the Scripture reader to take back a half-sovereign he had given him to purchase shoes, saying, “Never, sir, can I take it from you, after what you have been the means of doing for me."

Thus he went on, cheerfully toiling amid the soldiers; and not a few were made the better for his counsels. He earned the name of the "Sardinians' Friend." One man travelled five miles to the old stable to procure a copy of the Scriptures, while altogether about 18,000 copies were distributed; and he found loving helpers in such men as Hedley Vicars and Hector M'Pherson. Sickness, however, overtook him, and for a season he was obliged to retire, yet only, like the receding wave, to return with fresh force; nor did he desist till his work was done. Then, returning to Constantinople, he distributed 10,000 copies of the Word, and also about 60,000 tracts and books. Thence wending his way homeward, he visited various parts of Italy, sowing broadcast the good seed as he went, feeling sure that

BUSBY.

"He could not toil in vain;
Cold, heat, moist, and dry,

Would foster and mature the grain,
For garners in the sky."

(To be continued.)

A. A.

THE LATE MESSRS. M'MASTER AND BROADBENT,

OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT SABBATH SCHOOL UNION. (From an Address by Mr. Andrew Aird, the President, at the Union's Prayer Meeting, 14th May.)

OUR friend, MR. DONALD M'MASTER, died in the mid-time of his days, aged thirty-six. He was a native of Campbeltown. He came to Glasgow about eighteen or nineteen years ago. Shortly after he came to our city he joined the Bible class for young men connected with the Rev. Mr. Cumming's church. It was conducted by Mr. Murray. But he did not long continue a member of it. Feeling the preciousness of Christ unto his own soul, he earnestly desired to be engaged in Sabbath school work; and ere a short time elapsed he was appointed a teacher in one of the schools of East Gorbals Free Sabbath School Society. He soon proved himself to be a most faithful labourer in this Sabbath class. Not only had he naturally fine mental talents for teaching, but possessing also a lively and cheerful disposition, he at once gained the affections of his young friends; and in him they found not only an earnest and faithful

teacher, but a warm and affectionate friend. Up to the last of his active days he maintained this pleasant, obliging, and cheerful temperament, which went very far to make him the loved acquaintance and willing worker in the Master's vineyard. Having been appointed by his Society as a representative to our Union meetings, he at once manifested his love and knowledge for Sabbath school work, and his aptitude for business; for in due course he was chosen as one of our secretaries, and those of us who were in the management with him well know how assiduously he applied himself to all his duties. While he gave us our commands he took heed unto his own. Feeling his health to some extent failing, and having removed to the north side of the river, he had unwillingly to resign his office as secretary; but notwithstanding this, his attachment to our Union was not diminished. Ah! no. Up to the last his heart beat warmly towards it, for in my visits to him during his illness he anxiously inquired for it. In some, their piety appears more strikingly than in others. If our dear friend's had not this striking external appearance, it existed deeply in the hidden man. When the hand of God lay heavy upon him, this was touchingly and strikingly manifested. We saw it-we felt it in our soul. Although called to suffer long and severely in the furnace, he never murmured. How patiently he bore his load of suffering! His words ever were, "Thy will be done." After six months' confinement, and while there seemed little hope of recovery, he still kept his mind in composure, and, like a dying Christian, waited till his blessed Saviour said to him, “Come up." The process of dissolution, although slow, was sure. Truly his substance was wasted, and his strength weakened by the way. A day or two before his departure to his Father's house I saw him. He was so feeble he could not utter one word. He indicated that I should pray with him. After I did this, and had said a few words to his affectionate and weeping wife, he held out to me his dying hand. For a minute I stood with clasped hands, and looking at him as one who would shortly enter the portals of bliss, I said, "May the Angel of the Covenant be with you!" The second day after this was Sabbath, 16th April, and when many in the afternoon were worshipping in their assemblies, his soul winged its way to the "general assembly in heaven," A few minutes before the silver cord was loosened he gained strength, and at once engaged in prayer. Then, ere many seconds were fled, he calmly fell asleep in Jesus. What a blessed end! He almost entered heaven with prayer. Thus ended his six months' illness, and the days of his pilgrimage. And now his ashes lie in Campbeltown churchyard, till the morning of the resurrection. He died as he lived, ever resting on Jesus. His widowed mother, who still survives, (all her nine children are now sleeping beneath the clods of the valley, and she is one of the finest types of genuine piety I have met with,) informs me that her son (the subject of our sketch) was brought under the saving influence of the truth as it is in Jesus when he was between nine and ten years of age. From his more youthful years he had always taken an interest in divine things, but after that time there was quite a new state of feeling. he had reached his teens, he loved to sit and talk with her about the Saviour; which greatly cheered her heart at that period, and in later

Ere

years. In him religion grew with his growth, and strengthened with his strength.

I shall now give a brief notice of our other departed friend, MR. BROADBENT. He, like Mr. M'Master, was well known to this Union. He was laid aside from business in December last, and after five months' severe bodily and mental suffering, he entered into his rest and reward on the 21st April; and on the 25th, some of us, along with surviving relatives and other personal friends, followed him to the grave. In the quiet rural churchyard of Cathcart does his dust repose, till it be again quickened by the Son of God to put on immortality. Mr. Broadbent died in his forty-sixth year. His had always been an active life, and especially after he found Christ to be altogether precious unto him. This was in the year 1844, and when he was about nineteen years of age. He was a Sabbath school teacher for nearly thirty years. Twentyfour of them were spent in teaching in Stockport, Manchester, Bradford, and some other places. He came to Glasgow six years ago, and from that time up till the period of his illness he was instant in season and out of season in this work. It, with him, was a passion. Oh how deeply he loved it! it was like his meat and drink. Besides superintending the morning classes in Cathcart Road Wesleyan Sabbath School, he also discharged the same onerous duties in the afternoon. From the time that he became a director in our Union, he most zealously discharged its duties. Three years ago he was heartily chosen as its vice-president. From his long and practical experience of Sabbath school work, combined with his warm and frank manner, he was well qualified for visiting societies. To this very many of us can testify. Then he had such love for Missions. To learn our scholars the holy and good habit of giving to the cause of Christ, he carried out himself, and got some of our Societies on the north side to adopt, the Blake system of collecting. Many gave him thanks for introducing it. But he, too, like our other departed brother, however willing to work here, was not permitted, by reason of death. Let us this night be thankful that both had so much of this spirit!

During much of Mr. Broadbent's illness he was in a state of unconsciousness. But blessed is it for us to know, that at times, when all was conscious, he made most intelligent signs of his love to Christ and of his going to be with Him. Particularly was this the case the last night of his illness. During the midnight he seemed to come back, for a few minutes, from the other world. His beloved wife and his amiable minister, the Rev. Mr. Maltby, were waiting on. Mr. Maltby put several questions to him regarding his spiritual condition; and from his looks and signs there was the surest evidence of his clinging to the Saviour-that Christ was all in all to him. About nine o'clock of that morning he gently fell asleep in the arms of the Redeemer. Thus died our esteemed vice-presi dent. I have thus hurriedly and very imperfectly given a few notices of these two good soldiers of the Cross. In their zeal and love to Christ, let us seek to imitate them.

SELF-HELP. The Spartan mothers used to counsel their sons:-"If your sword be too short, add a step to it."

SHOP TRAFFIC IN GLASGOW ON SABBATH.

DEPUTATION TO THE LORD PROVOST AND MAGISTRATES.

ON Monday, 22d May, the Lord Provost and Magistrates of Glasgow were waited upon by two large Deputations, representing the Glasgow Sabbath School Union and the Working Men's Sabbath Protection Association, with Memorials in reference to the shops opened on Sabbath for traffic; a tabulated return of which appeared in our last number, page 127, (obtained by the police officers of the city, in accordance with instructions given by the Magistrates,) the figures of which may be relied upon as perfectly accurate. Councillor Wm. Miller, President of the Union, presented the following memorial:

Unto the Honourable the Lord Provost and Magistrates of
the City of Glasgow,

The MEMORIAL of the DIRECTORS of the
GLASGOW SABBATH SCHOOL UNION,

HUMBLY SHEWETH,-That your Memorialists represent nearly Seven thousand Sabbath school teachers, engaged in the work of training upwards of Sixty-nine thousand children, on Sabbath evenings, in the knowledge of Divine truth; and thereby are the means, under the blessing of Almighty God, of reclaiming many thousands of children from ignorance and vice, to become, morally and socially, good citizens:

That your Memorialists-amongst other discouragements and hindrances to the work in which they are engaged-feel that there is one hindrance prevailing to a very large extent, which is every year becoming more and more serious,-viz., the practice of shops being open on Sabbath for the sale of various goods-such as provisions, &c.; and particularly fruits and confections:

That the before-mentioned practice is contrary to Divine law, and also to the law of Scotland; and is, in the opinion of your Memorialists, uncalled for, either on the ground of necessity or mercy. The facilities thus afforded of buying on the Sabbath, and having the temptation continually before the children, has a most damaging and counteracting effect on the teaching given by your Memorialists.

Your Memorialists humbly crave that your Honours will take these premises into your consideration, and provide such remedy as to you shall seem meet to stop the illegal traffic.

And your Memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

WILLIAM MILLER, President.
JAMES RICHMOND, Secretaries.
ROB. W. SINCLAIR,

PETER M'OMISH, Convener of
Committee on Sabbath Observance.

MR. MILLER, in support of the Memorial, said he felt satisfied that the Magistrates were as anxious as the teachers to stop this evil, if they

could see their way to it. He stated that the opinion of counsel (Mr. Ed. S. Gordon and Mr. N. C. Campbell) had recently been obtained, to the effect that it was illegal to carry on the kind of traffic referred to on Sabbath, and that they considered it was the duty of the Magistrates not only to punish offenders when brought before them, but to take steps to have offenders brought before them to be punished. On the first point counsel said, "We are of opinion that the keeping open of shops for traffic on Sabbath falls under the prohibitions of the Act 1661, cap. 18, still in force against using any kind of merchandise on that day, and that offences under the Act are cognizable criminally by Sheriffs and Burgh Magistrates in their respective courts. But we are not of opinion that Sabbath traffic is a criminal offence at common law, unless the acts complained of be of such a nature as to disturb public worship, or outrage the religious feelings of the people."

MR. MATTHEW WOTHERSPOON also spoke in support of the memorial. MR. ROBERT MACINTOSH, President of the Working Men's Sabbath Protection Society, next presented a memorial, similar, in its general terms and purposes, to the one from the Union. It stated that the practice of opening shops for traffic on the Lord's day was increasing in Glasgow, and that in several other parts of the country the Magistrates had grappled with this subject, and hoped to be successful in their efforts.

The LORD PROVOST said the memorials would receive the earnest attention of the Magistrates. The subject had been before them quite recently, and it was not the first time they had looked at it and considered carefully what was the best course to take. It was greatly to be regretted that this trading exhibited itself on the increase, various classes of it at least manifested a decided increase from ten years ago,as it shewed that the public conscience was not more awakened to the evil than it was then, but perhaps the reverse.

MR. THOMAS HENDERSON thanked the Lord Provost and Magistrates for the courteous reception given to the members of the deputation, who then retired.

YE blessed with wealth! (another name for power

Of doing good,) O would ye but devote

A little portion of each seventh day
To acts of justice to your fellow-men!

The house of mourning silently invites ;
Shun not the crowded alley; prompt descend
Into the half-sunk cell, darksome and damp,
Nor seem impatient to be gone :-Inquire,
Console, instruct, encourage, soothe, assist;
Read, pray, and sing a new song to the Lord;
Make tears of joy down grief-worn furrows flow.

GRAHAM'S Sabbath.