ONE day Mr. Hammond received a very large packet by the post. He found, on opening it, that it contained a copy of the Queen's letter to the bishop, authorising that contributions should be made in all parishes for the support of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. The Queen's

letter was accompanied by another from his lordship, in which he earnestly requested the exertion of the clergy in so good a cause; and directed that the parishioners should be "effectually moved" by a sermon, and also that the clergyman should make a collection from house to house, together with any respectable parishioners who might be induced to accompany him.

Mr. Hammond very judiciously selected AdventSunday for his sermon, and chose for his text Rom. x. 13-15, "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel, and bring glad tidings of good things!" He first briefly but strongly pointed out the duty of sending forth missionaries, to proclaim to the heathen the knowledge of the Gospel; it was one of the first duties of Christian charity. It was impossible, that one who truly felt the value of the Christian faith should not feel an earnest desire to communicate the same blessings to those who sat in darkness.

But the chief part of his sermon related to the mode in which this duty should be performed, in order to insure God's blessing on our labours. "Sending" missionaries (he said) did not consist, as some seem to think, in merely subscribing to pay their passage-money, and perhaps allowing them a small salary when they arrived at their place of destination; but they must be sent by competent authority from the Church. They must be regularly ordained by the bishop for the work of the ministry.

This was the way in which invariably missionaries were sent forth in the apostolic ages: see, for

instance, the account of the sending forth of the first missionaries, Paul and Barnabas, in the thirteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. By sending out preachers of the Gospel in this regular manner, who shall either themselves be bishops or placed under regular episcopal authority, we might hope for God's blessing on their labours. But the irregular sending out of missionaries by unauthorised societies was too often productive of more harm than good. We had done infinite harm to the cause of truth by planting our schisms and divisions, instead of the sound doctrine and discipline of the apostolic Church. He quoted the saying of an Indian Brahmin, which spoke the general feeling: "We should like your religion better, if there were not so many sorts of it." He next adverted to a striking fact illustrative of the superior activity of the Romish Church to our own. Algiers (he said) had scarcely been four years in the hands of the French, when a regular Roman Catholic bishop was appointed; whereas Malta had been nearly forty years in our hands, and Gibraltar even longer, and no Protestant bishop had been near them; indeed, at the former place there was hardly a decent place of worship until Queen Adelaide, much to her credit, built one at her own expense. If our Government had done its duty, the Anglican Church would at this time be the most extensive of all, and true religion might now have spread into almost every part of the world. He hoped, some day, that we should, as a church and nation, exert ourselves to enlarge the kingdom of Christ. Meanwhile, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, being supported by all the bishops of the English Church, and recommended by the sovereign, afforded the best channel for our contributions. All it wanted was more effective support, which he heartily prayed it might obtain.

This sermon had a very good effect in setting the people of Churchover to think, not only on the duty of sending missionaries, but on the right mode of performing it. They had been accustomed to care very little about the manner in which missionaries were sent forth. Whatever society got up the best meeting, and sent travelling gentlemen who could tell the most amusing and pathetic stories, commonly got the most money. They never thought that they might be doing more harm than good, by sending forth irregular preachers, who should be the authors of confusion and disorder, and injure the cause which they were sent to serve. But now they came to see that the true way was to send forth missionaries, as a Church, duly commissioned, according to God's ordinance, to preach the gospel of peace and reconciliation.*

The next day Mr. Hammond commenced what was the least agreeable part of his task,-the going round from house to house to solicit contributions. It is one of those duties, however, from which a clergyman must not shrink, especially when he is acting under authority. People ought to consider this. They are always calling the clergy beggars;

It may be useful to inform churchmen which are the best societies to subscribe to. All churchmen, however poor, should contribute to the following:-1st, The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. This is the best missionary society, being sanctioned by all the bishops of the English Church, and being conducted on regular Church principles. 2d, The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. This society distributes Bibles, as well as Prayer-books and tracts. 3d, The National-School Society: an admirable institution, which requires especial support at the present time, as it is making unusual efforts. 4th, The Church-Building Society. 5th, The Additional Curate's Fund. There are many other useful societies; but these are the best and most important, and conducted on the soundest principles.

but they forget that they are performing a public duty; and that it is not for their own pleasure or profit that they beg, but often at great personal inconvenience.

The young curate's labour was much lightened by the kind and considerate offer of Mr. Walton to accompany him. "Come and breakfast with me," said his worthy friend, "and we will go together: perhaps my company may be of some use to you." So they set off in good time after breakfast, determined to make a day of it.

Have any of my readers ever engaged in this branch of duty? Though full of annoyances, there is also a good deal of interest and instruction in observing the different traits of character which are exhibited. First, by the way, let me recommend them on no account to carry their book and pencil in their hand, as they go from house to house; for. persons who are looking out of their windows will often suspect their errand, and refuse admittance. Of course they must expect to meet with many denials, and many modes of denial. First, there is the denial indirect: "Well, I'll consider of it, gentlemen." They may generally set down nought against the name of these considerate gentlemen ; though I have known them come forward afterwards with a handsome subscription. Then there is the denial direct: "No, I sha'n't; that's plump." Your only way in this case is civilly to wish the gentleman "Good morning;" or else he will be abusive. Then there is the denial courteous; and of these there are two kinds, the hostile and the friendly. The courteous denial hostile is of this sort (and it is a sort of denial, by the way, with which churchmen themselves would do well to be prepared): "Really, sir, I have thought of your scheme (or, I have read the prospectus of your society), and I cannot say

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