The Quiver, 11/1899

by Anonymous

NOTES OF CHRISTIAN LIFE AND WORK.

The Quiver Santa Claus.

Last month we published full particulars of our scheme to provide Christmas Stockings for the many poor and friendless little ones who are not on Santa Claus's visiting list, and we appeal to our readers for their hearty practical co-operation in this work. Each stocking will contain wholesome goodies, in the shape of cake and sweets, in addition to an unbreakable toy and a Christmas card. The Proprietors of The Quiver have headed the subscription list with a donation of £25, which is sufficient to provide the contents of

FIVE HUNDRED CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS FOR
POOR AND FRIENDLESS CHILDREN,

a sum of one shilling being sufficient to furnish a stocking and pay the postage. But, as we can profitably distribute thousands of such presents, we confidently look to all lovers of the children to lend their generous aid, in order that as many as possible of the destitute little mites may have their Christmas brightened by such a welcome gift. We shall also be glad to receive recommendations from our readers of suitable cases for the receipt of the stockings, and for this purpose the special application form to be found in our Extra Christmas Number ("Christmas Arrows") should be used. As the time is short, contributions for the Christmas Stocking Fund should be sent at once to the Editor of The Quiver, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C., and all amounts of one shilling and upwards will be thankfully acknowledged in our pages.

CURIOUS ALMS-BOX IN PINHOE CHURCH.

A Curious Alms-box.

In the interesting parish church of Pinhoe, near Exeter, appears a very curious alms-box surmounted by the figure of a man who seems, from his costume and general character, to date from the period of James I. He holds two books in his hand—representing most probably Bible and Prayer Book—one of which bears the inscription, "Y^e Poor Man of Pinhoo, 1700," but from information with which the vicar of the parish, the Rev. Frederick W. Pulling, has kindly supplied us, it appears that the books were added in 1879-80, when the church was restored. Previously the figure held a small flimsy box in front of him. He was, however, placed on the present handsome oak box bearing the inscription, "Remember y^e Poor," and the old flimsy box was removed. The present box was constructed from some very ancient timber from the roof of Salisbury Cathedral, when under repair. What the figure was originally intended to represent—whether a beadle, the dispenser of charities, or a relieving officer—is not known. Curiously enough, the parish records are quite silent as to the figure, and when, some time since, it was repaired it was sent to the eminent antiquary and ecclesiologist, the Rev. Mackenzie Walcott, who said he had seen only two such figures before. The wooden backing is of Jacobean style, and was designed by the architect in 1879 to strengthen the whole structure.

"God Bless the Kernel."

After the marvellous achievements in his two Chinese campaigns, which were sufficient to have made the reputations of a dozen ordinary colonels, Gordon came back to England in 1865 as poor as when he left home. During the next six years, which he spent in Gravesend as an engineer, the future keeper of Khartoum devoted a large portion of his leisure to visiting the sick and to teaching and training many of the ragged and neglected boys of the rough neighbourhood. So truly did these poor lads love their colonel that it was not uncommon to see chalked up on the walls the singular inscription, "God bless the Kernel." Their gratitude was apparently stronger than their orthography. When Englishmen reflect how Gordon placed his Divine Master first in every enterprise of his life, they must feel that no institution intended to honour the dead hero at Khartoum can be a worthy memorial which is not grounded on the rock of Christianity.

Christmas Cards and Gift-Books.

Christmas is pre-eminently the season of universal good-will, and the custom of conveying seasonable greetings by means of the attractive Christmas card is every year becoming more general. Amongst the publishers of these mementoes Messrs. Raphael Tuck and Sons take front rank, and the specimen box of cards, calendars, story-books, and illustrated texts, recently received from them, affords ample proof that the variety and artistic excellence which have always characterised their productions are well maintained this year. Some of the cards are veritable works of art, and deserve more than the temporary appreciation usually accorded to such; but the palm for novelty, both in design and treatment, must be accorded to the calendars, many of which are most original in conception, and all are daintily and tastefully produced.—For years past we have been accustomed to look for a Christmas book from Mr. Andrew Lang, and this season he has edited an edition of "The Arabian Nights Entertainments," which Messrs. Longmans have published in a charming cover, and with a number of clever illustrations by Mr. H. J. Ford.—Another suitable gift-book for children is "His Big Opportunity" (Hodder and Stoughton), a brightly written story by Amy Le Feuvre; whilst for young people what more inspiriting and interesting work could be presented to them than the life-story of the pioneer missionary, "Mackay of Uganda," of whose biography a new illustrated edition has just been issued by the same publishers.—We have also received the current yearly volumes of our contemporaries, Good Words and The Sunday Magazine (Isbister & Co.). These would both form valuable additions to any Sunday-school library, and are also admirably adapted for use as prizes or presents.

(From a Photograph.)

THE LAUGHING GOD OF CHINA.

Compensation.

An Irishman being bound over to keep the peace against all the Queen's subjects, said, "Then Heaven help the first foreigner I meet!" We are reminded of this when we see people civility itself to a good servant they are afraid of losing, or to the strongest-willed person in their home, and then relieving their pent-up feelings by being rude to the rest of the family.

Laughter and War.

"Have you any gods around here?" inquired an English traveller in rural China. "Oh, yes," replied a venerable Celestial; "the three Pure Ones, the God of the Fields, and the Goddess of Mercy." "My old friend, I am afraid your gods are not a few." "Foreign teacher," said the old man, "verily, verily, our gods are ten thousand and thousands of thousands." Some are of stone, others of wood, clay, or bronze. One may be purchased for a farthing, another will cost £200. The Laughing God in our illustration is a representation in coarse pottery of Quantecong, supposed to be the first emperor. There are laughing Buddhas for sale, and some few images of beneficent mien; but the great horde are intended to inspire awe or terror. The second illustration is a well-executed terra-cotta figure of a deified warrior. The drawn sword and beard are similar to those of Kwante, the God of War, regarded as the head of the military department in China. In 1,600 state temples dedicated to him the mandarins worship once a month, and in thousands of smaller temples he is honoured with sacrifices of sheep and oxen. His worshippers believe that he was a general, who just about the time that the Prince of Peace came to this world in great humility made the enemies of China to tremble. The elevation or manufacture of gods is a simple affair. The keeper of an idol shop collects the heads, limbs, and trunk that he has moulded out of mud, unites them in one ill-proportioned figure, slips a frog, snake, lizard, or centipede into the hole in the back, and the idol is ready for dedication and worship! The calm, colossal Buddha at Peking is seventy feet high, but it can only witness to a blind feeling after God.

An Ancient Manuscript of St Matthew.

The romance of New Testament manuscripts is again enlarged; this time by the discovery of a papyrus fragment containing a part of the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The precious sheet was found in the Libyan desert, about one hundred and twenty miles south of Cairo, by Messrs. Grenfell and Hunt, the discoverers of the Logia. It is thought that this fragment may be older by a hundred years than any other manuscript of the New Testament hitherto available. Its value, had it been a whole book instead of two leaves, would have been priceless. Even so, it is of singular interest. Its actual history, of course, is beyond discovery, but its appearance amongst the world of scholars reminds us of the strangely varied channels through which Greek manuscripts of the New Testament have come down to us. There is the romantic story of the discovery, in a monastery on Mount Sinai, of the priceless manuscript known as the Codex Sinaiticus. There is the scarcely less valuable Codex Alexandrinus which the British Museum now guards; that came to England as a gift to King Charles I. from a Patriarch of Constantinople. There is the great manuscript which is one of the glories of the Vatican Library at Rome, where it is believed to have been ever since that library was founded. There is the Codex Ephraemi at Paris, its ancient writing partly legible beneath a much later work written over it—a manuscript which once belonged to Catherine de Medicis. There is another palimpsest brought to England from a convent in the Nubian desert. There is the manuscript presented by Laud to the Bodleian, and supposed to have been used by the Venerable Bede. In truth, the history of these treasures is full of romance, and it is but fitting that new discoveries should furnish other examples of the strange ways in which the text of the Holy Scriptures in various parts and forms has been preserved for us.

(From a Photograph.)

A GOD OF WAR.

Humours of Hymen.

While nothing can be so distressing to a clergyman, whose duty it is to solemnise marriages, as irreverence or flippancy, he can hardly fail to be amused, if many of his people are poor and his area is wide, at the occasional results of a genuine ignorance, or a legitimate nervousness. A well-known church in Central London can furnish several singular and recent experiences. It is not often that either of the contracting parties comes furnished with a prayer-book, but on a certain occasion the bride, a rather strong-minded-looking lady, did so, and insisted on holding it sternly and steadily under the nose of her future spouse. In repeating the passage in which "cherish" occurs, a bridegroom, in a faltering voice, expressed his willingness "to love and to 'perish.'" "Oh, sir, I do feel that nervous!" once pleaded another embarrassed swain in the middle of the service. A widower, who was extremely awkward and stupid in making the responses after the minister, apologised by saying, "Really, sir, it is so long since I was married last that I forget"! Another bridegroom, though middle-aged, seemed somewhat diffident with regard to his responsibilities, and answered to the inquiry, "Wilt thou love, comfort, honour, etc.?" "To the best of my abilities I will." A year or two ago, the roof of the particular church of which we are thinking was being renovated, and the interior was a maze of ladders. Under these a superstitious bride earnestly begged not to be compelled to go, so she was considerately conducted to the chancel by a circuitous route. There was a wedding last year at which a tiny bridesmaid made her appearance. As he had married her parents about six summers previously, the clergyman thought he might venture to take her by the arm and to place her in her proper position behind the bride. Considerably to his surprise, the small damsel hit out at him in a most workmanlike manner straight from the shoulder, and the edifice resounded with a terrific yell of defiance, "Me won't! Me "WON'T!"

(Photo supplied by the Church Missionary Society.)

INDIAN ORPHANS AT A BREAKFAST SUPPLIED BY MISSIONARIES.

(A scene during the recent famine.)

Some New Books.

One of the most interesting biographies of the season is that of Bishop Walsham How, which has just been issued by Messrs. Isbister, prefaced by an excellent portrait of the late prelate. The Bishop was principally known by his work in the East of London, where he was greatly loved by clergy and parishioners alike, and many excellent stories are related apropos of his cheeriness and tolerant good nature in dealing with the mixed elements of his crowded diocese. The memoir seems full and complete, as, indeed, it should be, the biographer being Mr. Frederick How (a son of the late Bishop), who had access to all the private memoranda of his father, and was naturally acquainted with every incident of interest concerning him. From the same publishers comes an excellent work by our contributor, Dean Farrar, on "Great Books," in which he critically reviews the life and works of Bunyan, Shakespeare, Dante, Milton, and other "master-spirits." Though admittedly written for young people, the volume contains much that is valuable and interesting to older readers. Messrs. Isbister have also recently issued a volume of sermons by the Rev. Stopford A. Brooke, under the title "The Gospel of Joy." Whilst we do not endorse all the views expressed by the author, yet at the same time we are bound to confess that Mr. Brooke's eloquent addresses teem with happy and suggestive thoughts.—A daintily produced volume reaches us from the Scientific Press in the form of Mr. J. T. Woolrych Perowne's account of his recent journey in Russian Central Asia, published under the comprehensive title "Russian Hosts and English Guests in Central Asia." In many respects the journey described was quite unique, and the interest is considerably increased by the number and variety of the excellent illustrations which are scattered throughout the book.—"Table-talk with Young Men" (Hodder and Stoughton) is the title which the Rev. W. J. Dawson gives to his recently published series of "pen-conversations" with young men. Mr. Dawson's practical, straightforward and cultured "talk" on such diverse subjects as "The Art of Living," "Christianity and Progress," "Civic Responsibility," etc., is not only brilliant but highly instructive, and the book is one which should find a place on every young man's bookshelf, for it will richly repay careful and constant perusal.—We have also to acknowledge the receipt of "Comfort and Counsel" (Hodder and Stoughton), containing quotations from the writings of Elizabeth Rundle Charles for every day in the year; "The Children's Year-Book of Prayer and Praise" (Longmans), compiled by C. M. Whishaw; a useful and informing little volume on "Diet and Food" (J. and A. Churchill), by Dr. Alexander Haig; "A Cluster of Camphire" (Passmore and Alabaster), containing short, sympathetic addresses by Mrs. C. H. Spurgeon to those who are sick and sorrowful; and "The Daily Homily" (Morgan and Scott), a series of brief, pregnant discourses on the books of the Bible from 1 Samuel to Job, by the Rev. F. B. Meyer.

"Out of the Eater came forth Meat."

Samson's riddle is an everlasting proverb. Out of the devouring famine that last year devastated India blessings have already come to many provinces. A conquered race find it hard to love and trust their rulers, but in their trouble dwellers in the famine districts saw the practical side of Christianity. In the midst of universal rejoicing England was moved with compassion, and provided food for the starving. Government, in many instances, entrusted missionaries with the distribution of grain. The Indian people are slow to act and strong to endure. Thousands perished because they could not or would not realise that relief was within reach. Parents gave their last morsels to their children, and then lay down to die. Orphanages overflowed, and new ones had to be erected. Where an open shed and light meals of milk, rice, and curry meet the ideas of home and housekeeping, this is easier than it sounds. After a famine the number of Christian adherents to missions is always multiplied, and the supply of pupils creates new demand for teachers. It must be acknowledged that the taunt of being "rice-Christians" is sometimes justified, though there is little doubt that genuine gratitude to God, who moved His servants to help them, has caused numbers to turn to Him.

Abraham's Vineyard.

This piece of land is close to the Holy City, and now belongs to the Society for the Relief of Persecuted Jews. When the necessary excavation for building was begun, Abraham's Vineyard revealed signs of former glory and prosperity. Tesselated pavement, vats, baths, and a columbarium hewn out of the rock, showed that it had once belonged to a householder with taste for luxury as well as an eye for exquisite scenery. The baths and vats have been converted into cisterns for rain-water, and the place has become the scene of industry. The earth, in past years again and again reddened by battles, now yields peaceful harvests of grain. All the Jewish refugees are not, however, cultivators. Soap-making from olive oil and alkali grown on the Jordan Plain, glue-making, stone-dressing, quarrying, are industries which offer many of them an honest living. The idea of the founders of this society was "to give relief and employment to the Jews, especially in Jerusalem, until they are able to found colonies on their own account." The experiment of Abraham's Vineyard has succeeded, and the Jews have carried the work farther, as the trade in Jaffa oranges and olive-wood ware testify.

OUR CHRISTMAS NUMBER.

"Christmas Arrows" (the Extra Christmas Number of The Quiver) is published simultaneously with this part, and contains a complete one-volume story by M. H. Cornwall Legh, entitled "The Steep Ascent," copiously illustrated by Frank Craig. In addition will be found a seasonable article by the Rev. Dr. Preston, on "Christmas Chimes from Jerusalem" (illustrated by Mark Zangwill); a contribution by the Rev. Canon McCormick entitled "Christian Hospitality"; and a long fairy-parable by E. H. Strain which bears the title "The Star Ruby," and is illustrated by H. R. Millar. "Christmas Arrows" also contains full particulars and conditions of our scheme for providing Christmas Stockings for poor and friendless children, as well as the Voting Form which any reader is at liberty to use to recommend suitable cases for the receipt of our Christmas gift.

ROLL OF HONOUR FOR SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORKERS.

The Special Silver Medal and Presentation Bible offered for the longest known Sunday-school service in the county of Leicester (for which applications were invited up to October 31st) have been gained by

Miss Anne Harrison,
42, Humberstone Gate,
Leicester.

who has distinguished herself by fifty-eight years' service in Harvey Lane Baptist Chapel, Leicester.

As already announced, the next territorial county for which claims are invited for the Silver Medal is

SUSSEX,

and applications, on the special form, must be received on or before November 30th, 1898. We may add that Wiltshire is the following county selected, the date-limit for claims in that case being December 31st, 1898. This county, in its turn, will be followed by Durham, for which the date will be one month later—viz. January 31st, 1899.

The names of members recently enrolled will be found in our advertisement pages.

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