HAPPY GREETING TO ALL.

ALLEGRETTO.

Arr. by H. WATERS.

1. Come, children, and join in our festival song,

And hail the sweet joys which this day brings along.

We'll join our glad voices in one hymn of praise

To God, who has kept us, and lengthened our days.

Happy greeting to all! Happy greeting to all!

2 Our Father in heaven, we lift up to thee,
Our voice of thanksgiving, our glad jubilee;
Oh, bless us, and guide us, dear Saviour, we pray,
That from thy blest precepts we never may stray.
3 And if, ere this glad year has drawn to a close,
Some loved one among us in death shall repose,
Grant, Lord, that the spirit in heaven may dwell,
In the bosom of Jesus, where all shall be well.
4 Kind Teachers, we children would thank you this day,
That faithfully, kindly, you've taught us the way,
How we may escape from the world's sinful charms,
And find a safe refuge in the Saviour's loved arms.
5 Dear Pastor, we ask thee, as lambs of the fold,
To teach us that wisdom more precious than gold,
Our footsteps to guide in the pathway of truth,
To "love our Creator in the days of our youth."
6 And now, as we part, let us bid you good cheer,
We pray for a blessing on your labors here;

May many "bright jewels" be your blest reward,
And "crowns of rejoicing, in the day of the Lord."

N. B. In general anniversaries omit the last two verses.

SPECIAL SERVICE. - No. 8.

I. THE DEATH OF A TEACHER.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all com fort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

II. L. M.

Not of this world the hand that takes
Our loved, our lovely, to the tomb;
Not of this world the light that breaks,
Resplendent, from its vanished gloom.
The heart may bleed, the eye may weep;
Frail nature's sorrows must flow on;
Unmurmuring trust our spirits keep:

Father, 'tis thou-thy will be done!

III. SCRIPTURE LESSON. FROM SUNDRY SCRIPTURES.

Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand; for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight which he hath made crooked?

We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory,

to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope;

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Superintendent. Despise not the chastening of the Lord; School. Nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.

Sup. Though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion,

School. According to the multitude of his tender mercies.

Sup. He that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed,

School. Shall, doubtless, come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Sup. Weeping may endure for a night,
School. But joy cometh in the morning.
Sup. No man liveth unto himself,

School And no man dieth unto himself;

Sup. Whether we live, we live unto the Lord,

School. And whether we die, we die unto the Lord. Sup. Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

School. Let us trust, then, in the Lord, and he will strengthen our hearts.

Sup. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away;
School. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

V. PRAYER.

FAT

ATHER of mercies and God of all comfort! thou art our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Thou hast taught us to come to thee with all our sorrows, and hast promised to hear us when we cry unto thee from the depths of our affliction. Draw near to us, we beseech thee, in this hour of sadness, and let the blessed assurance of thy presence fill all our hearts. One seat is vacant in our school to-day; one familiar voice is silent in death. Thou hast taken from us a devoted teacher and a faithful friend; and we look up to thee for consolation. We bless thee, O thou Comforter of the afflicted, that we are not left to mourn as those who have no hope; that though we all do fade as the flower, and our lives are as a shadow that fleeth away, yet thou remainest, and thy years shall have no end. Help us to see that thou art dealing with us in this event, and to feel that thou doest all things well. May this bereavement draw us nearer to Him who is the resurrection and the life, that in his spirit we may say, Thy will be done. Oh lift upon us thy countenance, and fill our souls with heavenly peace. Guide us through the duties and trials of life, and finally gather us all to thyself in that upper and better world, where there shall be no more sickness, nor sorrow, nor death, but joy and bliss forevermore. Amen.