SERMON TO CHILDREN.

BY REV. ALBERT WALKLEY, BRIGHTON, MASS.

There once lived a boy whose father and mother died before he was fifteen years old. He was born in the great city of New York. He hardly knew what it was to have a home. When he became a man, he took to playing on the stage in theatres. Thus it happened that he wandered from city to city. He also went across the sea, and went among strangers in the countries of Europe, and saw the great people and pal

aces of those old countries and cities. Not only did he act plays, but he began to write plays himself, and so became well known in the world. He came back to his own country, but he did not care to stay long here. He was a restless kind of a man. He did not stay long anywhere. So he had himself sent to a city in Africa, called Tunis. He had no home there,-no wife, no children. He died there homeless, and on the distant shores of the Mediterranean Sea was buried. A monument was put up in his memory, so that one would think now the wanderer is at last at rest. But no: his countrymen loved him, and they said, "We must have his ashes in our country." It happened, therefore, that thirty years after his death his countrymen brought his dust across the ocean, and put it at last to rest in the capital city of his native country. The name of that city is Washington.

It

In one of the plays which this wanderer wrote was a little song of two verses. was a very simple song; but, being simple, it was great. When people heard it, they loved it. It made them weep with joy. They said, "The author is a great man." That little song the people will not let die. They sing it themselves. We have heard great operas by the great, great musicians; but they do not make you feel so happy as does this little song. These great operas will die, people will forget them; but this song will never die. The song of this rest less, homeless wanderer will live on and on forever. Perhaps we shall sing it in heaven. Perhaps the great choirs of heaven

will join in it, and make heaven glorious with its simple beauty. That song runs like this: :

"Mid pleasures and palaces though we may

roam,

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home!
A charm from the sky seems to hallow us there,
Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met
with elsewhere.

Home! home! sweet, sweet home!
There's no place like home!

"An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain :

Oh, give me my lowly thatched cottage again! The birds singing gayly that came at my call,— Give me them,-and the peace of mind dearer than all !

Home! home! sweet, sweet home!

There's no place like home!

Almost everything else this wandererwhose name was John Howard Paynewrote is forgotten. This piece of poetry has made him immortal.

Now there was another man who wandered about his country, doing good to others. He had no home, but he loved home. He loved children: he wanted them to come to him. And they did come. He was always talking about them, and about brothers and sisters and father and mother and the love of home. He said that the little birds had nests for homes, that the animals had places in the ground, in the rocks or the trees, out of which they made homes, but that he had no home himself. But he was all the time trying to get men and women and children to see that the God who made all the world and the sky and the stars and men and women made all on the plan of a home. He wanted men.

to see that God had made us all brothers and sisters to each other, and that he had placed us here to make it all homelike. And he wanted us to make it homelike all over the world, from the north pole to the south pole, from where the sun rises to where the sun sets. He taught us that God himself, the great God over all, the great Spirit everywhere, after he had made us brothers and sisters, called himself Our Father. And this God, Jesus said, is a real

Jesus wanted all men to see that we were not to be afraid of God, but to feel he was with us in this great home which he had made. And afterward we were going to a larger home, where we were going to know more about what it meant to have God as our father, more what it meant to have all men as brothers.

Jesus never would give up the home idea. And he made his religion one that was to keep on telling men that they are brothers, that God is their Father, and that there is only one family in heaven and earth.

We love our homes. We are feeling every day more and more that this world, with its beautiful trees and flowers and birds and blue sky, and friends and loved ones, is our blessed home, and that we are going slowly, but cheerfully, on and on, to a more beautiful home in the sweet by and by. This feeling makes us Christians, and it makes us love Jesus for teaching such a beautiful, helpful, hopeful religion.

QUALITY, NOT PLACE.

Said A, "Whene'er I stand between
The letters B and D,

I'm in the midst of all that's BAD,
As you may plainly see."

"How strange!" said merry, laughing E:
"When I between them am,
I'm tucked up comfortably in BED,
And happy as a clam."

"It's quality within ourselves,"

Then mused the letter A,

"And not the place we occupy, That makes us sad or gay." -Mrs. H. M. Greenleaf, St. Nicholas.

A CAT CLIMBS A CHURCH STEEPLE: HOW IT WAS RESCUED.

One beautiful summer evening the avenues were thronged with people on their way to church. At a corner several persons were standing, gazing apparently into the air. Others soon joined them, until so large a crowd was gathered that the way was blocked. Soon the windows along the street were thronged, and a number of persons were seen on the tops of the houses in the neighborhood.

And what do you think they saw? Cling

the top of the tall church steeple that pointed straight up into the soft evening air, was a black cat. "How did it get there?" was the first question every one asked, and "How will it get down?" was the next.

The poor thing was looking down, and at frequent intervals it uttered a pitiful cry, as if calling to the crowd below for help. Once it slipped and fell a short distance down the sloping side of the steeple; and an exclamation of pity came from the crowd, now intensely interested in its fate. Luckily, the cat's paws caught on another projection, and for the moment it was safe.

Some looker-on suggested that it be shot, in order to save it from the more dreadful death that seemed to await it; but no one was willing to fire the shot. Erelong a little window, some distance above the place where the cat was clinging, was seen to open. Two boys had determined to save it. They had mounted the stairs to where the bell hung, and then by a ladder reached the window. The boys were seen to be lowering a basket down the side of the steeple.

Pussy watched it intently as it slowly came nearer and nearer. When it was within reach, she carefully put out one paw and took hold of the side of the basket, then as carefully repeated the action with the other paw, then with a violent effort flung herself over the side into the bottom of the basket.

She was safely drawn to the window, amid loud cheers from the spectators below.-St. Nicholas.

AN ORIENTAL LULLABY. "Come, little pigeon, all weary with play, Come, and thy pinions furl." That's what a Japanese mamma would say To her sweet little Japanese girl. "Cease to flutter thy white, white wings,

Now that the day is dead: Listen and dream while the mother bird sings." That means, "It's time for bed." "Stay, little sunbeam, and cherish me here : My heart is so cold when you roam.” That is the Japanese "No, my dear:

I'd rather you played at home." "Roses and lilies shall strew thy ways:

The Sun Goddess now has smiled." That's what a Japanese mamma would say To a good, little, yellow-faced child.

Common is certainly an inviting spot in which to hold these meetings; and the speakers invariably seem to feel at perfect ease beneath the overhanging boughs, though standing upon the unfamiliar platform of a tool-chest lid. A conversational and direct delivery is naturally the result of the situation, and the speakers are frequently greeted with applause from the mixed congregation so promiscuously assembled.

-At the New South Church, after a period of some uncertainty since Rev. L. B. Macdonald's resignation, a vigorous campaign has been actively set in motion by the installation of Rev. Leslie W. Sprague and his wife, Rev. L. F. Sprague, as pastor and associate. Mr. Sprague is full of enthusiastic expectation for the future of the New South, and no effort will be spared to make a thoroughly popular democratic church, inspired by and proclaiming the glad tidings and cheering, simple faith of the Unitarian gospel. It is sincerely to be hoped that every Boston minister of our denomination will take an especial interest in this most desirable enterprise, and lend a hand to Mr. Sprague.

Cedar Rapids, Ia.-The congregation of this church is not so large as some others, but it has a business way of doing its business that proves very satisfactory to the officers and members. It is, in effect, pay cash, and keep out of debt. For several years this policy has been in force, and the congregation could not now be induced to accept any haphazard way of conducting its affairs.

At the meeting last evening reports were made by the officers of the parish, the Ladies' Aid Society, the Sunday-school, the senior and junior King's Daughters, and the People's Club. Mr. Jenkins, the clerk, reported that all accounts against the church were paid in full, and that there 'was a balance in the treasury.

The Ladies' Aid Society, through Mrs. C. D. Van Vechten, reported a total collection of over $500 for the year.

The King's Daughters report a total collection of $80, besides a considerable amount of work done and money collected for various charitable purposes.

The People's Club realized a net sum of about $100 during the winter. The Sunday-school has increased in numbers, and also has a balance on hand.

The choir is a voluntary one, and is under the direction of Mr. Jenkins. The members work without pay, except the organist. Mr. Palmar, the pastor, spoke of the work of the choir, and commended it heartily.

flowers. There were many parents and friends present, who listened to the beautiful and appropriate exercises by the children of the kindergarten and the pupils of the Sunday-school. The pastor, Mr. Reccord, preached a brief "Sermon from the Flowers." Perhaps the most impressive part of the service was the christening of five little children. At the close of the service each child was presented with a potted plant. On Sunday, June 21, there was a consecration service, with a welcome to new members. The pulpit was prettily decorated, and the choir rendered special music. At the close of the morning sermon there was a simple but impressive service of welcome, after which Mr. Reccord extended the right hand of fellowship to eighteen new members. During the service three babies, whom the storm of the previous Sunday had kept at home, were brought forward and christened. The church closes June 28 for July and August.

was

Cleveland, Ohio.-Unity Church never more beautifully adorned with flowers than on "Children's Day," the second Sunday in June. The service was in keeping with the beauty of the place, and was very impressive. A christening service was conducted by Miss Murdock, and a brief service of welcome to new members was observed. Miss Buck gave a sermon from the text, "The flowers appear on the earth," in which the order of the natural world and the beauty of the flowers were taken as a revelation of the divine Spirit. The lines

"When I behold the beauty of the flower, It is to me the Father's loving smile,' suggested the theme, "A Smile of God."

The children of the Sunday-school voluntarily gave up their annual picnic, in order that they might add the amount usually bestowed upon them for the picnic to the fund sent to the St. Louis church. The ladies' societies of the church have combined to form a Branch of the National Alliance, and plans are well under way for the work of the coming year. The lawn fête for the benefit of Unity Kindergarten netted $200 to the fund; and the ladies will enter the new year of work in the kindergarten with $300, half its expense for the year, on hand. Subscriptions enough to cover the remaining amount have been pledged. On June 28 the church will hold its last session before the summer vacation, and will reopen the first Sunday in September.

Guild was held, at which interesting re- · ports were given of the representative meeting of young people's guilds held in Boston, May 28, by our two delegates, Paul Phalen and Huse Blanchard. Some of Rev. F. L. Phalen's recent subjects have been "The Tragedies at St. Louis and Moscow: How can we reconcile them with the Divine Goodness?" "Liberty in Religion: Its Use and Abuse," and "The Love of God."

Unitarian Educational Society: The adjourned annual meeting of the Unitarian Educational Society was held at the parlor of the Unitarian church, June 22. The usual reports were made, and the following officers elected for the ensuing year: J. C. A. Hill, president; C. C. Danforth, vice-president; C. E. Carr, clerk and auditor; R. P. Carr (Andover, N. H.), treasurer; Rev. Lyman Clark, financial agent; and J. C. A. Hill, Rev. S. C. Beane, J. W. Fellows, Dr. H. A. Weymouth, W. S. Carr, Rev. F. L. Phalen, and George W. Stone (Andover, N. H.), executive committee of the board of trustees. Members of the board of trustees not on the executive committee are Solomon Spalding, Solon A. Carter, Miss Mary A. Downing, Rev. D. M. Wilson, Rev. J. B. Morrison, Rev. Lyman Clark, W. S. Quimby, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Fellows, and Mrs. Carrie Carr.

The annual exercises of Proctor Academy, which is maintained by the society, having taken place June 5, it is found that two members of the school for the past year will take final examinations for Harvard College, and two will seek admission to the Meadville Theological School. During fifteen years of the school under the present management, its pupils have taken subsequent studies at Harvard and Dartmouth Colleges, the Harvard Divinity School, New Hampshire and Massachusetts Agricultural Colleges, the Leland Stanford, Jr., University, University of California, Boston University Law School, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Normal Schools at Plymouth, N. H., Salem, Bridgewater, and Worcester, Mass., and a New York Normal

School.

Decorah, Ia.- Unity Church at this place is closing the most successful year of its history. Both in numbers and in the enthusiastic response of its friends in money and service, the year has been most fruitful of permanent growth. Since last November, when Rev. A. G. Wilson, formerly of Spokane, Wash., became our pastor, twenty-five new members have been added. Two services have been held each Sunday, and a "unity assembly of young people" has met an hour before the evening

service.

The assembly" has been the religious and educational department, with an average attendance of sixty, including all ages. The Ladies' Society has been especially active in carrying to successful

Detroit, Mich.-In accordance with the new articles of association adopted by the Unitarian church last November, the annual meeting of the society was held May 28 in the church parlors on Edmund Place. The meeting was called to order by the clerk, and Capt. Gilbert Hart was chosen moderator. The report of the treasurer, Frederick H. Holt, was then read, showing the society free from debt, and with a substantial gain in the number of families and individuals contributing. The report of the Sundayschool was made by Mrs. Frances Bagley Brown, superintendent. Miss R. G. Mumford reported as secretary and treasurer of the Ladies' Industrial Circle, Miss Emmons for the Charity Club, Mrs. A. A. Ballow for the Detroit Branch of the National Alliance of Unitarian and Other Liberal Churches, Miss M. F. Power for the Unity Club, and Mrs. Gibson for the Ladies' Union.

The election of the trustees for three years being next in order, the clerk was instructed to cast the ballot of the society for John N. Bagley, Fred N. Holt, and Thomas W. Palmer to succeed themselves. The vacancy in the board occasioned by the resignation of John W. Loud, who has removed to Montreal, was filled by the election of Dr. N. W. Ives. Mrs. Frances

Bagley Brown was unanimously elected superintendent of the Sunday-school, and the thanks of the society voted for her fidelity and zeal in carrying on the work during the past year. An advisory committee was then chosen, consisting of Percy Ives, Mrs. Charles T. Cook, Mrs. Kinzie Bates, A. G. Boynton, S. Olin Johnson, Miss Annie Wiley, A. E. Baker, and A. S. Parker. The appointment of the reception committee, whose duty it is to welcome strangers to the church, was left to the moderator. Percy Pease and Fred Hart were re-elected ushers, with power to select their assistants; and the thanks of the society were tendered them for their services during the past year.

On motion of Senator Palmer the trustees were instructed to prepare suitable resolutions expressive of the society's appreciation of the faithful services of John W. Loud as trustee and its regret at his resignation and removal from the city. On like

motion the trustees were instructed to prepare a proper memorial upon the demise of the late Henry Warner Newberry, for forty