2. Another fact, we may observe, is, that each Church has a right to manage its own affairs, and every member a right to take part in such management. In this we differ from the Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and the Wesleyan Methodists. The Presbytery have to settle all matters of importance among the Presbyterians, entering as ecclesiastical judges into all their affairs. The Wesleyans have to submit their transactions to their quarterly meeting or conference, and ministers are appointed over them whom they may have never heard. Aud with regard to the Episcopal form of Church government, its members bave no voice whatever. The system we hold, and for which we have the authority of the New Testament, is far superior to any of these. It was the Church that elected Matthias to fill the place of Judas; and the Church as a body was to elect the seven deacons here referred to. The Church was the highest authority recognised by Christ. Thus, with regard to an offended brother, the last resource is to bring him before the Church ; not before the Presbytery or association, but the Church. The Church is to manago its own affairs. Every member has a voice in its affaire.

3. The other fact is, that the peace and prosperity of the Church of Christ depend in a great measure upon the wisdom and discretion of each member in electing men to certain offices in the Church. We must be guided by right motives, having nothing else in view in all our actions but the glory of God.

With this purpose in view we desire to explain the nature of one of these offices in the Church ; namely the diaconate.

1. Let us point out the duties appertaining to the office of deacon. The word deacon means a servant-one who serves at the table; and the seven men here referred to were to be elected to serve. There are two words used by the Greeks for those who are engaged in serving—olos and diákovoc. Doulos means a slave—a general servant; but diakonos is one of a higher class, used frequently for a servant, or an attendant of a king. “I am among you,” says Christ, "as one that serveth”-as one that is a deacon. Thus, whatever may be the nature of the work, it has been highly honoured, in that Christ was a servant. Deacons are the servers of the Church. They are to “serve tables"_to attend to the temporal necessities of the poor members of the Church. There were many who were poor in that new and large community-many who were dependent, perhaps, almost entirely for their support on the public funds. TVidows are especially mentioned here, and it would seem that only the widows received charitable relief, and only those of them who were in circumstances requiring sach. “ The poor," says Christ, “ye bave always with you.” And it is the duty of the Church to attend to the temporal as well as to the spiritual necessities of its members, and for this particular work deacons are appointed.

But from the allusion that is here made to widows, it may be asked, Are none but widows entitled to receive relief from the Church? To

this wo ariswer; there is no hard and fast line relative to such. Any member who may be in circumstances requiring assistance becomes a fit object for such. He or she belongs to those who are poor, and consequently must not be neglected.

All the pecuniary business of the Church is to be transacted by the deacons. The support of the minister is to be attended to by them; and the arrangements of collections, subject to the approval of the Church, belong to them.

They are also to serve at the Lord's Table—to carry the elements that are symbolical of His sufferings and death from member to member. Deacons are also, by virtue of their office, to assist the minister in watching the spiritual condition of the people-foster the new life in its germ, nourish the tender plants, and maintain Christian consistency arong the members. They are to co-operate with the minister in preserving the purity of the Church. Discipline must be enforced, and they are his right-hand supporters in the work. The duties appertaining to this office are very important.

II. Let us observe the qualifications essential in men appointed for this work.

1. They are to be men possessing unblemished characters—men of honest report, of uprightness and straightforwardness. “Look ye out among you seven men of honest report"-men who are regarded as men of integrity, whose characters are above suspicion, and whose reputation will stand before the world. It is true that all connected with the Church of Christ are to be men of integrity, and the deacons are to be selected from among the most sincere of them. They are to be men in whom you have confidence, men of whom you are persuaded that they have the cause of Christ near their hearts, and who in all their deliberations seek the advancement of His kingdom throughout the world.

2. They are to be eminent for their piety- fall of the Holy Ghost." The fact is obvious that in the management of the affairs of the Church they need the special aid of God's Spirit. They are to be men who live very near God, who breathe the very atmosphere of prayer" full of the Holy Ghost.” Men who know something of life, of trials and difficulties, and thus are able to impart comfort to those who may need such. The spiritual state of the Church depends in a great measure upon the degree of spirituality among the deacons.

3. Wisdom is another qualification essential in a deacon. Honesty and integrity are not enough, there must be wisdom. “Men of good report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.” Without wisdom even a holy man may do much more harm than good in such an office. Occasionally there come under the notice of deacons matters that require much discretion and prudence. They have to deal with affairs that may be somewhat intricate, but by a certain aptitude they are able to quell the storms that may arise, and thus promote the peace of the Church. Deacons must be s men of wisdom.” There are other qualifications mentioned by the Apostle Paul in the First Epistle of Timothy, which the reader may do well to study himself. The election of deacons should always be attended to with much care, as the results are sometimes very momentous. The following suggestions, given by Dr. Innes, may be of some service on this subject :

"1. It should be a matter of much prayer, both in public and secret, for Divine direction.

"2. Guard against a party spirit. Let the first question be, Who is best qualified for the office? The choice is one of much responsibility; it is intimately connected with the comfort and prosperity of the Church. Let no private friendship, or family connection, or the solicitations of friends, influence your choice.

" 3. Guard against being influenced by wealth, or status in society, unless there are the qualifications mentioned in Scripture. It is, at the same time, desirable that those who are appointed should be at loast in circumstances to devote a fair proportion of their time to their daties.

“4. Guard against ascribing improper motives to those who may differ from you. Exercise forbearance to them; give them the same liberty you claim for yourselves."

If these suggestions are all attended to, each having nothing less in view than the glory of God, in the advancement of His cause, the Divine blessing will rest upon the work.

Pembroke Dock.

" THAT WALL!”

LITTLE Mrs. Hayward was de- large, weedy flower-garden, and exlighted when her husband bought plore the numerous nooks and the old Deerfield farm. To be sure crannies of the roomy old barn and there was a mortgage on it, and well-sheltered farnıyard. that was rather a damper on her “I should be perfectly happy," perfect happiness, but the young she said to her husband, “yes, in couple hoped, by the exercise of spite of the mortgage, perfectly prudence and economy, to have that happy, if only"- there she stopped, paid off in the course of a few years; for she could not finish her sentence. and though not accustomed to But her husband understood. He farm-work, they did not dread it. felt as deeply as she did how much Both were industrious, and anxious they should miss their little May, to get on in the world.

the dear child who had been like a Mrs. Hayward had always longed sunbeam in their home, but had to live in the country, and Deerfield lain beneath the sod a whole year farm was her beau-idéal of what a now. country place should be. For "I do hope we shall like our several days after they took posses- neighbours," the little wife said, sion the little woman could not when she could command her voice do much but roam about in the big sufficiently to speak again. “It, orchard sweet with apple, cherry, will be just too bad if they are not and peach blossoms, dig in the nice and sociable.'

There was plenty of furniture to anybody could tell that. I wish I fill the old house. When Mrs. knew her. Perhaps—who knows? Hayward's father died, he left his -I might do her good in some way. only daughter all the furniture he She looks as if she needed a friend.” bad accumulated during fifty years “She shows poor taste in not of housekeeping, and not liking to wishing to make your acquaintance, sell it she had stored it away until Lucy; but I shouldn't urge it on Frank bought the farm, when it her.” was put into use, and was found "No, I won't. But if we were sufficient to render every room in once acquainted, if I could once the old house thoroughly comfort- break down the wall between us, I able.

know we should be good friends, Mrs. Hayward was much disap- and then--she has such a lovely pointed in her neighbours. They child,” with a thought of little May all called on her with one excep- bringing a sob to the mother's throat. tion-and she found them social “She evidently worships her enough; but they were plain, un child," said Mr. Hayward. "I educated women, with no thought have noticed that in church she - above the best way to make bread rarely takes her eyes from its face." or cider, and the newest fashion for “I do not wonder," said Lucy, cutting a calico gown. They were sighing. “How terrible if she domestic, hard-working, and thrifty, should lose it,” she added, thinking and made excellent wives to their of that dark day on which their little industrious, practical husbands; May had left them. She could but they were not congenial to Mrs. understand how Mrs. Morgan loved Hayward, who had lived most of her child. She felt that she could her life in a city, and was a lady love it also-for May's sake. too.

| One warm September day Mr. But the nearest neighbour did not Hayward came into the house at call, and she was the only one of noontime, with a broad smile on his whom Mrs. Hayward fancied she face. could make a friend, Mrs. Morgan "What's the matter, Frank ?" was very different from the women asked his wife, as she put the last I have described. Something in dinner dish on the table, and took her sensitive, clear-cut face told her seat opposite him. Mrs. Hayward of bitter disappoint- “Wait until I eat a piece of this ments and discouragements which chicken, and I'll tell you," he had been endured silently, and had answered. “I am as hungry as a left the heart wrung and sore. At hunter, and this dinner looks tempt. church, and often on the road, the ing." two women met, and exchanged a Ít was a tempting dinner. No silent greeting, as became such near one knew better than Lucy Hay. neighbours, but still Mrs. Morgan ward how to prepare an appetising did not call.

| meal, and she always studied her -" I am sure I should like her if husband's tastes. she would only let me know her,”! “Now, Frank,” the bright little Mrs Hayward said to her husband. housekeeper said, as, the chicken

“ You seem strangely interested despatched, she began to cut the in her," he remarked, laughing. pie, “I can't wait any longer. “I assure you her husband is as What has pleased you so much ?". commonplace as you can well “Well, I have learned at last of imagine."

what that wall between you and “ But she isn't commonplace— | Mrs. Morgan is built.”

Well, what? and how did you that Mrs. Morgan had declined to learn it?"

come. “Morgan and I were both work- " That wall must come down ing to-day on that road which runs some way,” she said firmly. between our farms, and I discovered. The next day she sent over to in the course of the conversation we Mrs. Morgan's to say that she was struck up, that he thinks we are going to drive into town, and would proud. He didn't say so, exactly; Mrs. Morgan let Daisy go too? but his remarks on high-toned The drive would, no doubt, be a farmers' were very pointed, and I pleasure to the child. The man was not slow to understand them. came back with the answer that We are proud, he thinks, because Daisy was asleep, and could not be we own this big old farm, with the disturbed. prospect of paying for it if we work “ Well, I am at the end of my hard enough for the next ten years; resources," said Mrs. Hayward. “I and be threw out a hint that women shan't try any more, for she eviwho played the 'pianner' were not dently has no desire to know me. as a usual thing anxious to associate But still, I believe that wall will with people who had been raised come down some day, if I wait long poor.'»

enough and am patient.” “Anything else ?” laughed Mrs. So no more attempts at friendship Hayward, as her husband stopped were made, and Mrs. Morgan contalking in order to drink his coffee. tinued to live in the isolated, deso

“Isn't that enough? There's your late way she seemed to prefer to any wall, my dear. Now, I wonder other her neighbour might have how you will break it down ?" helped her to find. But Mrs. Hay

“Do you suppose Mrs. Morgan ward could not help pitying her, as shares lier husband's feelings?" she saw her at work either in or out

“I don't doubt it for a moment." of the house from dawn until night

“ Suppose I call on her first? It fall, and marked, when she met isn't usual, but still, if she thinks her, the settled melancholy and deI'm proud ”

spair which lay on her white face “Do just as you think best, Lucy. and in her dark eyes. I am only interested in seeing how “If ever an opportunity offers, I you will break down that curious will show her how I feel for her,"

thought the happy little wife at the “I'll manage it somehow, trust big farm. me," said Lucy, in the bright way An opportunity offered very unwhich made her so charming. expectedly.

That afternoon Mrs. Morgan re-! Mrs. Morgan's young 'un is ceived an invitation from Mrs. down with the scarlet fever,” said Hayward, sent by a passing neigh- the man one bitter cold morning in bour's boy, to take tea with her at January, as Mrs. Hayward set his six o'clock.

| breakfast before him. At about half-past five Mrs. Hay- “Scarlet fever!” she cried. "Oh, ward received an answer to the you can't mean it." effect that her neighbour was too “ Yes, and she ain't got no busy to spare the time to come. womankind there, either. She's The message was brought by the been so stand-off like ever since they little golden-haired girl, who re- moved up here, that no one will go ceived a kiss, and a pocket full of nigh her now, seein' the fever's candy to carry home with her. ketchin', too. Folks say she's

Mrs. Hayward was disappointedd sorrowful like, all the time, but