Though original and beautiful in conception, the works of the young artist were too unfinished to be adopted in the form of his ambition, but they found professional friends for him, and indirectly led to the higher good, as the following incident will show.

About three months after the conversation narrated, he, with his Christian acquaintance, and several prizewinners, were standing under the great tree in the central transept, examining their medals and certificates of merit, when the remark was ventured :—

"You know, gentlemen, that there is promise of a yet greater prize. To him that overcometh will I give a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it. The gift of that stone by the Righteous Judge, 'who giveth to every man according as his work shall be,' means acquitted from the penalty of the broken law, with the title upon it of adoption into the Royal Family of Heaven. I trust that each of you have decided for Christ?"

"I have, sir," the young man replied thoughtfully, as

WORKING AND GROWING IN GRACE.

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they separated from the others and walked down the transept. "When you first spoke to me I had a troubled conscience, as, after once taking the sacrament, I fell back into a worldly and sinful life. I have sought for mercy, and for the past few weeks have enjoyed peace with God, and long to be useful as a Christian.”

"Thanks be to God," exclaimed his friend, "for your right decision and boldness in confessing Christ. By all means yield fully to the holy impulse to devote yourself to the Divine service. Wherever there is life there is motion, and activity as a Christian is the secret of rapid growth in grace and in preparing for the unending service of praise. Let us cement a closer friendship, and I will set you to work."

The offer was accepted with some emotion, and the friends lingered in the palace until arrangements were made for them to visit a sick man in Middlesex Hospital on the next Sunday afternoon, and in the evening to teach in a Ragged School. That friendship lasted for several years, as the young die-sinker attained to a good position and was doing sound work in the Church when he left England to join an uncle in New York. When there, as his letters testified, he renewed a life of Christian usefulness.

Each of the eight evangelists to the Exhibition had cause for gratitude and encouragement in their labours. Five have finished the earthly service of the Saviour, and those who survive are still zealous in good works.

The other day we were speaking to one of them, when he remarked, "That was a happy summer we spent together in Hyde Park twenty-six years ago; it seemed as though the blessing of God rested upon everything and everybody."

But then all proceeded pleasantly in that fairy-like palace, as during the five months of its existence there was a reign of good temper and happiness within its precincts.* Time, indeed, passed so rapidly, that that summer in London appeared to glide to its close as a lengthened day; and as the morning drew near for the closing ceremony a general desire was expressed for its continuance if only for a few weeks. Arrangements with exhibitors would not allow of this, and therefore, upon the fifteenth day of October, the Prince Consort received the British and Foreign Commissioners in the vast central nave. He was met with an universal expression of affection and gratitude, for all felt that his grand conception had succeeded, to the lasting benefit of England and the world. All that was right and courteous, to the smallest detail, had been accomplished, and no compromise of principle had been permitted. That sign between God and His people, the Sabbath, had been strictly observed in the "Palace;" and the closing words of the good Prince in his reply to the Report of the Commissioners, read by Viscount Canning, proved that his spring of

* Appendix, Note I.

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motive and successful effort was deep religious feeling. His memorable words were,—

"Let us receive it (this success) as an auspicious omen for the future; and while we return our humble and hearty thanks to Almighty God for the blessings He has vouchsafed to our labours, let us all earnestly pray that that Divine providence which has so benignantly watched over and shielded this illustration of nature's productions, conceived by human intellect and fashioned by human skill, may still protect us, and may grant that this interchange of knowledge, resulting from the meeting of enlightened people in friendly rivalry, may be dispersed far and wide over distant lands; and thus, by showing our mutual dependence upon each other, be a happy means of promoting unity among nations, and peace and goodwill among the various races of mankind."

Many friendships had been formed among officials representing foreign governments and amongst exhibitors in the "Palace" from various peoples, while at that time in England's capital all men appeared to be friends. There were, therefore, many farewell meetings, to one of which we were drawn by bonds of Christian regard,— the closing praise- and prayer-meeting, which was held in the back room of Leicester Square, where the band of evangelists gave thanks for blessings granted on their labours, and commended each other to the keeping of the God of all grace. They told of discouragements so great that several had returned to their own country;

but those who had persevered to the end obtained access to foreign hotels, cafés, and lodging houses, in which many visitors gladly received the tidings of great joy; and were pleased at the opportunity to obtain copies of the written word of God. Regret was expressed that "regulations" had prevented their efforts among foreign exhibitors in the Crystal Palace itself; but as hundreds of thousands of silent messengers of peace had been circulated, and a true if feeble testimony given, the Divine blessing was asked in several languages and in many prayers of faith. The parting of these brethren was hopeful and cheerful. They, indeed, had a good hope that many who had come from the uttermost parts of the earth to see the wisdom of man would return, saying, "Behold, a greater than Solomon was there;" and having resurrection-life in Jesus they anticipated the time when the ransomed from all ends of the earth should meet before the throne in the "City of our God," there to unite with the Church triumphant in the anthems of unending praise for their accomplished and complete redemption. And thus we separated, each man to his own nation and home.