AND AITKEN MEMORIAL FUND. Office-21, JOHN STREET, ADELPHI, LONDON, W.C. Patrons. THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. THE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER. THE BISHOP OF RIPON. THE BISHOP OF SODOR AND MAN. General Superintendent.-Rev. W. HAY M. H. AITKEN, M.A. Secretary.-REV. S. W. DARWIN Fox, M.A. OBJECT. To promote Mission work in the Church of England by maintaining a staff of experienced Mission Preachers. These are either entirely supported by the Society, or grants are made to Incumbents, enabling them to provide additional Curates, and to devote a portion of their time to holding Missions. A Mission is usually continued for ten days, with two or more Services daily, every Service being followed by an After Meeting. About 550 such Missions have been held since the formation of the Society. The numerous testimonies received justify the Committee in stating that a great work has been accomplished. The results have been manifested in the increased efficiency of the ordinary ministrations. In many parishes the number of communicants has been largely increased, large Bible-classes formed, earnest workers sent forth into the Lord's vineyard, and the spiritual tone of the congregation much raised. At the present time 8 clergymen are entirely engaged in the service of the Society, 14 others receive grants, while a large number give their voluntary help. The Mission work in the Dioceses of Rochester and Lichfield is under the direction of their respective Bishops, superintended by Mission Preachers supported by this Society. The Revs. R. W. Aitken, C. I. Atherton, J. Cullin, W. Haslam, J. H. Lester, S. E. Pennefather, and other well-known Mission Preachers, work in connection with the Church Parochial Mission Society. As the greater number of the Missions held are in the poorer parishes of large towns, and in country villages, there is much need of liberal help if the Society is to be made the means of extensive usefulness. LAY MISSION WORK.-The Committee of the above Society are preparing to send Lay Agents into parishes and districts at the invitation of the Clergy. These would hold services in halls, schoolrooms, barns, and tents, or would organize Church Mission Corps for work in the open air. Early application is requested, in order that suitable arrangements be made. Further particulars will be sent on application to the Secretary. Reports, Collecting Cards, &c., will be sent on application to the office. The Secretary will also be glad to send, month by month, papers containing lists of forthcoming Missions to any who will make these a subject of prayer. The new Report, which will be ready shortly, will contain a full report of the Annual Meeting held last May ander the presidency of the Archbishop of York. The Prodigal Son. THE WASTED SUBSTANCE AND THE MIGHTY FAMINE. "And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want."-Luke xv. 13, 14. WE pointed out in our last discourse that man's assertion of his independence of God lies at the root of all his sin. We shall go on to see to-day that this is the source of all his misery, disappointment, and loss; in a word, that it is the cause of his ruin. No doubt, in turning his back upon God, man is animated by a desire to promote his own happiness and enjoyment, and to further his own interests; but he only succeeds in bringing about the very opposite result. Man was happy, and his interests were secure, so long as he trusted his Maker with everything, and lived a life of cheerful and trustful dependence upon Him; but the moment man decided to be his own master, and preferred to be as God, instead of being under God, he sinned against his own interests as much as against his Maker's claims and character, and sowed the seed of the harvest of misery that he has been reaping ever since. All this is illustrated in a very striking way, in the parable which we are considering, by the conduct and experience of the younger son. We have already contemplated the first two false and fatal steps which this young man took. First, he claimed to be independent; and second, he decided to get away as far from his father as possible, in order the better to enjoy his independence; and we saw that such is the progress of the soul in the apostasy of man from God. First we claim to be our own, and to do as we like; and then we endeavour to get away as far as possible from God, and to forget and lose sight of Him from whose control we have revolted, and whose claims we have determined to ignore. We too wander into the far country, along the way of Cain-the way that leads out from the presence of God. Alas! my dear brethren, who shall say V. 17 C |