NASHOTAH CHURCH MISSION.

"NASHOTAH has now nineteen students-all young men steadfastly purposed to enter the holy ministry. We have no boys, for all are over sixteen, and the larger number over twenty years of age. Of these nineteen, eleven are candidates for Holy Orders, who are in three distinct classes. The senior class, graduating next year, consists of four; the middle class, graduating in 1853, numbers three; the junior class, graduating in 1854, contains four members. All these are pursuing a regular and complete system of theology, under Professor Adams. This fact will, of course, assure every one of its fidelity to the Church, its high character, and thorough practical usefulness. The remaining eight are in such classes as their varied progress towards candidateship will allow. How many of them will be prepared to form our next junior class, I cannot with certainty say. You will, however, be pleased to hear, that three are already, in a measure, secure to enter the next Nashotah year.

"Here, then, you have a brief statement of what Nashotah is. It is a theological school of the Church, planted here in this new country, and yielding the most valuable fruits. Year after year, some and, we trust, an increasing number-will go forth as missionaries into the great field. Already have sixteen candidates gone forth from this consecrated spot, to fill some of the most important posts in the north-west. Next Trinity Sunday will, doubtless, see this number increased to twenty. Suppose that only four are sent out annually, what a great accession even this small number soon becomes to the ranks of

the Clergy! Nor, justly speaking, is this a small number; four is surely a goodly number to go forth and build up the Church of CHRIST. Who can estimate the good done by four earnestminded men?

"It must, I think, be apparent to every mind, that there is a great instrumentality for doing good-for building up the Church. Here is truly a mission planted in the very heart of a vast region, to be won from every error, to the truth as it is in our Holy Apostolic Church.

"How, you may ask, is this great work carried on? How are friends provided, by which so many young men are fed, clothed, instructed, and in all respects maintained for this great and glorious work? Solely by the alms and offerings of the Church. Faith that she will sustain us' is our only support. Amid the most trying wants, this upholds us, and bids us 'faint not.' Yet it requires courage to hold out amid the suffering actually upon us-for we are in great want. We will not conceal the fact, that while we are rendering the most essential service to the Church, we are doing it by privations, great, many, and extreme.

"You are well aware how, by the well-directed efforts of the missionary of the Church, Nashotah's self-denying founder, parishes are so abundant around us, that we cannot extend our labours over as wide a territory as formerly. Yet we are not by any means neglecting the population around us. Our chapel every LORD's Day morning receives a good congregation, and every Sunday afternoon a good congregation gathers in Oconomowoc. That village is growing rapidly. The corner-stone of the Church was laid there-the foundation begun, and the brick wall at one end commenced-but the cold weather came suddenly, and froze everything up. The wood-work, however, is going on, and in the spring, everything being ready, we hope to be better off than we should have been if we had gone on this fall. Waterville and Hartland, I trust, are destined to have Churches ere long."-Colonial Church Chronicle.

GUARDIAN ANGELS.

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation ?"-Heb. i. 14.

O! who may tell how fair that angel form

That watcheth o'er an infant's calm repose,
On whose pure brow, not yet hath earthly storm
Sullied the holy dew from Baptism that flows.
His whisper doth beguile

A heavenly radiance in that slumb'ring smile;
For know we not his favour'd place?
In heaven he seeth aye the FATHER'S Face.

The young! the pure! with all their bright array
Of joyous hopes, and dreams of coming bliss,
How fondly must their angels guard their way,
And mourn the trial of a world like this!
Yet no not mourn, they know
That GOD, their loving FATHER, wills it so,
And trust them to His might,

Who, as He placed, will aid them in the flight.

And when their pilgrimage is well-nigh over,

And age hath silver'd o'er the "hoary head,"
Well may we deem the guardian spirits hover

With shelt'ring wings around that "crown of glory" spread.
What though for ever gone

The youthful dreams that once around them shone,-
Calm hope of coming rest

Now tranquil reigns within each wearied breast.

And ev'n for him who from Baptismal grace
Hath fallen low, dyed foul with guilty stain,
Which now with bitter tears he seeks t' efface,
And pardon for his evil deeds to gain;
O'er his repentance deep

Do not the angels glad rejoicings keep?
Is there not joy in heaven,

When to their care he too at last is given ?

They must rejoice, when, ere the world's rude glare

The spotless robe of Baptism might stain,

The infant objects of their tender care

GOD, in His mercy, to Himself hath ta'en.

Or, while the light of youth
Still folds their charges in its robe of truth,
If they, too, pass away,
Where reigns the purity of perfect day.

But most of all, when, the last conflict ended,

And still'd for aye the world and all its woes,
Those whom so long and lovingly they tended,
Find in the grave a full and blest repose;
No longer to bewail

The many wand'rings of a spirit frail,
Nor mourn while they allow
The chast'ning Rod, which lays that spirit low.

This never more shall be those Angels' part.

Safe are the weary ones, by earth opprest;
Smooth'd the worn brow, and hush'd the throbbing heart:
And they the Watchers, to their calm and hopeful rest,
With many a look of love,
Bring messages of peace from GoD above;
And show them visions fair
Of heavenly joys He doth for them prepare.

So shall it be a little while, until

(The last stray sheep safe gather'd to the fold,
The measure of redeem'd ones to fulfil,)

The Judgment shall be o'er the fate of all men told.
Then shall the holy throng
Of Saints and Angels, one immortal song
Of love and joy, and praise,
Round the blest Throne of GOD for ever raise.

The Editor's Desk.

CHURCH NEWS OF THE MONTH.

THE ecclesiastical incidents of last month have presented nothing that demands much by way of observation or comment. The advent to power of the Derby ministry is, we conceive, a subject of sincere congratulation to all Churchmen. Although we confess there are one or two names which we would gladly have dispensed with, the ministry, as a whole, is more favourable to the cause of the Church, than we could have expected for many years. Many of the government, and especially the Prime Minister, are already pledged to points of greatest moment; such as the exercise, by the Church, of her convocational powers, the education of her own children in her own way, as well as one or two other minor questions. We entertain, therefore, great, and we think well grounded, hopes, that justice at least will be done to our claims; and, therefore, we should beg all our readers, even if they do not agree with the political creed of the government on a special question, to give them a hearty and cordial support, for the sake of the Church.

An example of the exercise of penitential discipline has also been given at Littlemore, where one who had been guilty of a grievous public offence, has, during this Lent, been reconciled, and re-admitted to the privileges of communion, which he had forfeited. The service, &c., had the approval of the Lord Bishop of Oxford.

But the event of the month undoubtedly is the attack which has been made upon the Sisters of Mercy at Plymouth, and the rejoinder of Miss Sellon, the Mother Superior. We shall not enter here into the thoughts that crowd upon us with reference to this matter; but we will quote the following passages upon a subject which concerns far more than the Sisterhood:

"With respect to the hours of prayer (in the Greek and Armenian Churches, as well as amongst the Latins and our own) I will refresh those who read this tract with an old hymn, which I hope may lead them also thus to commemorate the Sufferings and Passion of our Blessed LORD, and so to assist them through the temptations and pains of each day.

"THE HOURS OF THE CROSS.

"He that is the great profound Sapience
And Divine Truth of the FATHER on high,
Which for mankind of His benevolence,
Himself hath made both GoD and Man jointly,
Was sold and bought by the Jews traitorously,
And about midnight perturbed and taken,
And of His disciples anon forsaken.

"The first hour in the morning early,

Unto their judge, called Pilate, the Jews,
JESU with His hands bounden they carry,
Where many a false witness did Him accuse.
In His neck they Him smite, in His Body they bruise,
They spytte and defile there His godly face,
The Light of Heaven replete with all grace.

"About three hours after the sun began to spring,
All the Jews cry JESU to crucify;

And in scorn they clothed Him with purple clothing.
And instead of a crown on His head they tye
A wreath of thorn that pricked cruelly.
And led Him forth to the place where He died,
With a great huge Cross on His shoulders laid.

"The sixth hour springing before the mid-day,
JESU hand and foot to the Cross they nailed,
With the shamefulest death that they contrive may,
In despite between two thieves Him hanged.