II. SCRIPTURE READING. Mark v. 35-13.

While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead; why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleep. eth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entered in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha-cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, (I say unto thee,) arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

III. RESPONSES.

S. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

in

T. The Father of mercies,

C. And the God of all comfort.

S. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation,

T. That we may be able to comfort them which are any trouble,

All. By the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

IV. PRAYER.

Lord, thou hast afflicted us, and we can but mourn. The loved one has been removed, and we see her no more! Lift upon us the light of thy countenance, and may we be reconciled to thee to thee our Father and unchangeable Friend. May we not distrust the goodness of thy dealings, but be resigned where we cannot see why the dear one should be taken away. May we never forget her. May her early departure impress all our hearts with the thought of how soon we may be called to eternity; may we profit by the teachings of our

school, and be ready to smile on death and be unterrified by the tomb. For the hope of immortal life and joy, we thank thee; and we pray that all bereaved hearts may have its comfort and strength, that when time shall end, eternity may be anticipated with joy. Hear us, O Father, in the name of Jesus our risen Saviour. Amen.

I. HYMN. C. M.-To be read or sung.
Fill all his court with sacred song,
And from the temple wall

Let verdure wave o'er joyful throng,
At this glad festival.

And still more greenly in the mind
Store up the hopes sublime,

Which then were born for all mankind

So blessed was the time.

And underneath these hallowed eaves

A Saviour will be born,

In every heart that him receives

On this triumphal morn.

II. SCRIPTURE READING. Luke i 8-20.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

III. PRAYER.

God of the light that shone out of darkness and glorified the world! we praise thee for the Sun of Righteousness, for the light of the knowledge of thy glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Manifold are thy mercies. Day unto day testifies of thy goodness; for thy favors are new every morning, and are continued every evening; but the greatest and best of the tokens of thy love is the gift of thy dear Son. We bless thee that he was born among the humble and lowly that he grew in stature, and in favor with God and man-that he was holy and blameless in childhood, as he was pure in manhood—that he honored his parents, and served them as a dutiful son. May we give heed to his virtues and example; and though we can bring to him no costly gifts, nor offer incense by his cradle-bed, yet we may serve him by doing the things he has commanded. Thus

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may we do. Thus may we feel that he was born for us; and when sorrow comes, we shall find comfort; and when death approaches, we shall commend our spirits reverently to the Father, and depart in peace to that world whither Jesus hath risen for us all. We pray in Amen.

his name.

IV. SPONSES.

S. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given :
T. And the government shall be upon his shoulder;
S. And his name shall be called Wonderful,

All. Counsellor, the Mighty. God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

S. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end

T. Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it,

C. And to establish it; with judgment and with justice,

All. From henceforth even forever.

S. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. C. Glory to God in the highest!

T. On earth peace, good will toward men !

V. HYMN. C. M.

Calm on the listening ear of night
Come heaven's melodious strains,
Where wild Judea stretches far
Her silver-mantled plains.

Celestial choirs, from courts above,

Shed sacred glories there;

And angels, with their sparkling lyres,
Make music on the air.

The answering hills of Palestine

Send back the glad reply,,

1

And greet, from all their holy heights,
The day-spring from on high.

Light on thy hills, Jerusalem!

The Saviour now is born!

And bright on Bethlehem's joyous plains
Breaks the first Christmas morn.

O God of Him who came to earth
Thy blessings to bestow,
May we receive him as thy love,
And his full glory know!

X. FOR A GROVE MEETING.

[The Company should form a circle round the banner of the school, the smallest children being the nearest to the centre. The Superintendent should stand on an elevation.]

I. The Superintendent addresses the whole.

Children and Friends: We are here to enjoy social fes-tivity under the sanction of religion; and we may learn to-day, if we will, that there is nothing opposite to our happiness in the restraints of the Gospel. In the name of Him whose first miracle was at a marriage-feast, let us gather to-day, and feel, as we have never felt before, that

Religion never was designed
To make our pleasures less,"

but to increase them, by opening the vast resources of joy which are locked up to the irreligious,

Then

Let us speak to each other while we speak to God, and cherish the sentiments we are about to sing. shall a new brightness and beauty shine for us to-daya clearer light from the Sun of Righteousness."Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with singing."

II. SACRED SONG. 8 & 7's M.
We are here to spend in gladness
One free day of social mirth;
Banished be all springs of sadness.
Joy be out o'er all the earth!

Father! from thy throne in glory
Smile upon us all to-day;
Let us ne'er forget the story

Of thy love that lights our way.