When all was ready, we began to think about the presentation. Our hearts had all gone doubly out to the Duchess, when we heard of the shadow of great sorrow which had so early clouded her new home; and we thought that perhaps her sister's loss, on the very day after her own marriage, might make a difference in the presentation. But we were the more gratified and touched to hear that Her Royal Highness was willing to receive us in person, and appointed June 30 to receive the gift, at Buckingham Palace.

There were then many happy thoughts bent towards that day. The Maidens who formed the deputation, consisted of twenty-one who had signed the invitation, and who had gathered the most number of givers. Ireland sent several representatives, and so did Scotland, and many different English counties were represented. This is the list, that our readers may pick out several names known to them :-Lady Edith Bligh, and Lady Kathleen Bernard, the Hon. E. Brodrick, Hon. G. Kinnaird, Misses A. E. Barrington, Leslie Melville, Okeover, Agnew, Bontein, Burton, CampbellColquhoun, Crowder, Hamilton, Cecilia Havergal, Inge, Layard, S. M. and A. Nugent, C. Stopford, Symes, and Wellesley.

[The Proprietors of the Graphic have, in the most courteous way, presented the readers of LIVING WATERS with an electro from their engraving of the "Bible and Casket." It is taken from a photograph by Mr. Charles Jones, 255, High Holborn, W. C]

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THE MAIDENS' BIBLE.

When most had assembled at one house, the Bishop of Tuam gathered us for prayer, sealing our happy work. He asked for boundless blessing on our Prince and Princess, the blessing of firm, glad grasp of Him who is "the Gift of God," and "the Word of God." He asked, too, for us who gave the gift, that it might truly be our treasure, and that our lives might show that we valued it beyond price; and then all the givers, far and near, were included in the same request.

Then we set out, and reached Buckingham Palace at half-past twelve. Through the enclosure first, then into the inner court by a wide set iron gate, up to the chief entrance. All was ready, and there we were met by the Countess of Aberdeen, who undertook to introduce the Maiden Deputation. We had no waiting, and at once the doors opened into the room where the Duke and Duchess were, and the Bible. We went forward, each making her low courtesy, and were greeted with a sweet, smiling bow from the beloved young Princess, whose deep mourning dress again reminded us of the sympathy we longed to express more fully. When we were all in her presence, the doors were closed, and Lady Aberdeen introduced us, and then called on Miss Nugent to read the address in the name of the 26,020 subscribers. She had then to come forward and read what follows, earnestly trusting that each giver would be able to endorse every word of it as her own :

The Maidens of the United Kingdom gratefully embrace the permission given to them of offering their heartfelt welcome to your Royal Highness to a home in our country, and to a place in the family of our beloved Queen.

We have selected the Word of God as the outward sign of that welcome, because we reckon it as our own best treasure, the Pearl of great Price, the very voice of God speaking to man, by which the silence between Heaven and earth has been for ever broken. And although "the sound of axes and hammers has lately been heard in its stately fabric of hallowed words," the most searching criticism and the most complete scholarship have been able to add nothing to, and to alter little of, the words on which the hope and faith of many generations have firmly rested, and they only leave us more satisfied than before with the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

We rejoice to be able to recognise in the doubled number of names from all classes a token of increased and deepened loyalty to our Sovereign, and also as a sign of the high esteem in which His Royal Highness has long been held.

We would ask to be allowed to add our earnest prayer that the Book which lights the way to the Home, which no sorrow can enter, and where no partings can pain, may be the light of your Royal Highness's earthly home, and that, along with the Prince, your Husband, you may increasingly find the comfort in sorrow and the joy in prosperity of knowing HIM, in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and Whom to know is life eternal.

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When it was read, Her Royal Highness graciously shook hands with the reader; and then Prince Leopold handed her a paper from which she read the following answer most distinctly and impressively :

Ladies,

I accept your address with no ordinary feelings of gratitude, and I can assure you that the Maidens of the United Kingdom could have selected no more welcome gift than the beautiful copy of the Bible, which you have now, in their names, presented to me.

I trust, indeed, that the large number of those who have joined in making me this present testifies to the increasing veneration with which the sacred volume is regarded by all classes in this country, and I am glad also to think that the donors were actuated by a desire to seize this opportunity of displaying their loyalty to the Queen and their regard for my husband.

I beg you to accept, on behalf of the 26,020 subscribers, my heartfelt thanks for their most acceptable gift, and for the kind words of welcome that accompany it. (Signed) HELEN.

Then we all retired, our loyalty deepened and our gladness greatly increased at having been again allowed to offer our tribute of loyal welcome in the gift which is indeed our own choicest treasure, because it reveals Him in whom is present salvation and eternal joy..

Going into the Palace with our gift made us think of a great many things about the great Palace where the King of Eternity lives. How did we get into the Palace that day? It was because we had a gift to bring. And what is our right to enter into the Heavenly Palace? It is also by having a gift to bring. Everyone knows that, and so down in all our hearts there is the feeling, "what shall I bring to God ?" Many try to scrape together something which they think will be worth offering Him. Some hope that an outwardly blameless life will be the gift fit for God, and some think that doing their best will be a sufficient offering, and like Cain, they bring the fruits of their own toil to him. But none of these will do! There is only one Gift which will please God, and is worthy of his acceptance. It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who is called the Word of God. But how are we to have Him? God is so anxious to have us in the Palace, that He says, "I will give you the Gift by which you shall have the right to come and live with Me in My Palace." And so God gave His only begotten Son." Have we each one taken Him? for if not we have no right to enter into His Palace. But let us take Him now, and when we come to God, we shall come bringing Jesus, and then no one can challenge our right to enter in and abide for ever. We still find what we found the other day, that because we come with such a Gift, all the gates are open, the servants all waiting, and everything prepared.

66

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PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS IN RUSSIA.

Do read Prov. xviii. 16. 66 A man's gift maketh room for him," and let each giver ask herself honestly before God: "Have I got the one gift in my heart and hand which alone will make room for me in Heaven ? "

And if we can say a happy, honest Yes! then let it be known. Do not be ashamed of it, any more than we could be ashamed of letting our friends know that we were going to the Palace with our gift.

Now let us all meet in prayer as we have already met. There is double need now that our gift is inside the palace. Do not let us put aside our privilege of prayer, and may everyone who has joined in this gift meet face to face in "the King's Palace," because we have learned, from the pages of the WRITTEN WORD, how to take as our own personal Saviour, Jesus, the LIVING WORD!

PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS IN RUSSIA.

BY MRS. FINN.

HERE is some lull in the severity of the persecutions, owing partly to the Russian Government having at last expressed disapproval of the outrages practised upon helpless Jews and Jewesses, and partly to the fact that the peasantry are now getting in their crops, and have less time for maltreating the Jews.

But there are almost daily accounts of incendiary fires in towns and villages where Jews live; and grievous loss and suffering, with some loss of life, are inflicted by this means in a speedy and wholesale fashion. This week brings an account of one such fire among several others. The whole Jewish population found themselves suddenly houseless and in destitution. Their nearest Jewish neighbours of another town at once despatched two waggon loads of provisions. These had but just arrived and were about to be distributed to the famishing multitude, when messengers came in haste to recall the waggons, as those who had sent them were now suddenly plunged into the same destitute condition by the burning down of their own town. Finally the provisions were divided; part kept and part sent back to succour those now in no less want than the brethren whom they had tried to relieve.

They would all do, as thousands have done, flee for their livesbut where are the means? Whither shall they go ?

These are questions which none can answer. The Jews in England, France, Germany, Austria, and indeed all lands have

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given, and are still giving, immense sums for relief-the Mansion House Fund is almost all from Jewish and not Christian Donors. And yet all is insufficient for relief of a million of destitute victims of this Christian persecution. Above 8,000 have been sent as colonists to America, Canada, &c., &c., but what are 8,000 to 1,000,000? And what is to become of the rest?

We feel that surely this is a case for the energetic action of British Christians. Will they rest content with the sum given by them to the Mansion House Fund, and with the much smaller amount (about £2,000) raised so far in answer to the appeal to Christian sympathy, signed by Lady Strangford and Lord Shaftesbury ?

The vast majority of these poor sufferers pray to be sent to their own land, if possible. And we are therefore endeavouring to administer relief by arranging to place some in Colonies in Syria. Just at present the Sultan does not wish Jews to be sent in large numbers to the immediate neighbourhood of Jerusalem, i.e., the Turkish district called Palestine. But vast tracts of fertile country, also in the "Land of Promise," lie open and ready, where Jewish settlers could settle, enjoy peace, and be able to earn their bread. Thither we desire to send them, quickly, ere they die of starvation. But if any real permanent

good is to be effected, we must have a far larger sum than has as yet, been contributed, in order that they may be sent out at once, and that seed, cattle, and shelter may be afforded to each family. And time presses. The sowing season begins in October, if that is missed, our Colonists will have to be supported, not until next havest-time, in May and June, 1883, but till that of a whole year later. They should be settled at once if they are to begin their work in time. But four or five weeks are left us if we are to secure this year's seed time. Will not British Christians arise and help in this time of urgent need?

Let us seriously think of the great debt we owe to the Jews. The whole of the Bible was written by Jews under God's inspiration, and they were the human means of its preservation through many centuries. Our Lord Jesus is the "Lion of the tribe of Judah." All His earthly life was spent in the "Land of Promise." God has promised a glorious future to His ancient people. Let us have the honour of helping them while we have the opportunity, in this, their sore, time of want. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love thee.”

[Any further information about the Syrian Colonization Fund, which is under the presidency of Lord Shaftesbury and Lady Strangford, will gladly be given by Mrs. Finn, (widow of Her Majesty's late Consul at Jerusalem), the Elms, Brook-green, W.]