"Come," in place of saying, "Go." But if these ladies and gentlemen have been away from their own church during the forenoon, and then have to go on one Sabbath afternoon to one church with the young people, and on the next to another church, and so on during the month, and from month to month, what becomes of their own church-connection? This is a difficulty for which we are at present without a solution —and it must be solved upon a proper principle soon, for as these services increase in each district, the continued absence from church of the officebearers in the meetings, will be more felt by them, and also give cause of complaint to others. The committee have, therefore, resolved to ask advice upon this point, as well as upon the whole question of these afternoon services. They are the more encouraged to invite their fellowlabourers throughout the city to a conference upon this subject, as from a conference, held two years ago, upon the subject of Sabbath Forenoon Meetings, a very considerable impetus was given to that movement, and many earnest helpers secured for it. The committee rejoice in having this opportunity of thus bringing the whole question of Sabbath afternoon services in churches for boys and girls before the ministers, elders, and Sabbath school teachers, who are interested in the progress of religion among the young. To such this cause never before presented so many phases calculated to cheer and stimulate. The Sabbath forenoon meetings, now so numerous and so rapidly increasing, both in attendance and in number, form an invaluable training ground for proper Sabbath observance, and, when carried on in the right spirit, may be called the vestibule to the church. The opening of churches in the afternoon begins a feature of the religious life of the boys and girls, which will continue and increase as they grow older, and rise above the forenoon meeting; while, until that point is reached, the Sabbath school supplies individual tuition and catechising, which can be found in neither the meeting nor the church. Let us, therefore, seek to draw more closely to each other in the management of these separate, yet inseparably connected schemes; and endeavour to devise, in concert, measures which may be blessed to the advancement of them all. Let us realize more fully, from day to day, the oneness of all this work. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." *** 66 **The Committee are happy to intimate, that the large hall connected with Wellington Street U. P. Church has been granted by the managers for the purpose of this conference, which will be held there, (entry by 41 Waterloo Street,) on Monday evening, 14th March, JAMES BELI, Esq., President of the Society, in the chair. PROGRAMME OF CONFERENCE. 8 o'Clock-1st Topic. The propriety of Sabbath Afternoon Services in Churches for the young, in order that those attending the Sabbath Forenoon Meetings and Mission Sabbath Schools may be brought into the Church.-Introduced by MR. ALEXANDER MACKEITH. (8 minutes.) 8.45. o'Clock-2nd Topic.-The best mode of conducting Sabbath Services in Churches for young people.-Introduced by REV. JAMES WELLS. (8 minutes.) 9.15 o'Clock-3rd Topic.-The best method of connecting the Sabbath Forenoon Meetings and Mission Sabbath Schools with these Services. Introduced by MR. WILLIAM P. HUNTER. (8 minutes.) The Committee embrace this opportunity of inviting Sabbath School Superintendents and Teachers, and all interested in this subject, to be present. WILLIAM MARTIN, Jun., Convener. GLASGOW FOUNDRY BOYS RELIGIOUS SOCIETY, NATURAL HISTORY OF SCRIPTURE. TARES. TARES are only mentioned once in Scripture, viz., in the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, in Matt. xiii. 24-30. The Greek word translated tares, is zizania, the Arabic equivalent of which, in the present day, is zawan, applied to the grass known to botanists as Lolium temulentum, or Bearded Darnel. It is a remarkable circumstance, shewing the beneficence of Divine providence in covering the face of the earth with " grass," forming an essential portion of the food of animals, that the darnel or tare is the only species known to be poisonous. It is a species of ryegrass, common in the countries on the Mediterranean coast, of occasional occurrence in England, but seldom found in Scotland. The leaves of darnel are scarcely to be distinguished, even by an experienced eye, from those of wheat. In the parable, it was only when the seeds of both plants sprang up, "and brought forth fruit," that the ear of the "good seed," or wheat, as sown by the householder, was distinguishable from the ear of the darnel, the tare, which "an enemy" had sown stealthily and maliciously in the wheat-field. When the two plants appeared, the servants of the householder offered to go and weed the field of the deleterious grass. The thing was practicable; indeed, Dean Stanley mentions, that he saw women and children employed in picking out the green stalks of the zawan, or darnel, in the corn-fields of Samaria. Other travellers testify to the same practice. Dr. Tristram states, that he did not witness the process, not having been in that quarter at the season, but he saw many women hand-weeding the fields at an earlier period of the year. But, while the proposal of the servants was an easy practical operation, their employer knew that it was not without risk to the wheat. Let any of our readers pluck up one or two plants of wheat or oats, or even common grass, in summer, and they will perceive the reason; the roots of grasses, in common with all annual plants, are fibrous; grasses being what are called "social plants," naturally grow close together; the fibres of their roots, spreading around in quest of water and food, become inter laced with each other, so that, in pulling up a stem of darnel, there was a probability that the root of the wheat would be torn up along with it, or otherwise disturbed or displaced, so as to have its functions interfered with. "Wilt thou," said the zealous and willing servants, "that we go and gather up" the tares?—"Nay,” replied the considerate and far-seeing master, "lest while ye gather up the tares ye root up also the wheat with them: let them both grow together until the harvest," and then the order would go forth to separate and finally dispose of them. The natural history of this beautiful parable is without a trace of ambiguity; the narrative is in complete accordance with nature. The spiritual significance of the parable is made abundantly plain in verses 37-43 of the chapter cited. We have said that the darnel occurs sometimes in the wheat-fields of England. Mr. Jones, in his “Botanical Rambles," narrates the following incident:-"I was one day walking through a wheat-field in one of the western counties of England, just before harvest, when I observed a considerable quantity of darnel growing among the corn, and stopped to gather some. While I was thus occupied, the owner of the field came up to me, and asked me what I was gathering. I said that I was merely collecting a few specimens of a peculiar kind of grass, which I shewed to him. Ah!' said he, 'that is a very bad sort of weed to grow among I assented, and after mentioning to him what the properties of the plant were, said, that some people supposed it to be the same with the tare of Scripture.' The farmer, however, appeared to know very little about the parable to which I alluded, but went on to say, that he found it a very troublesome weed, 'for,' added he, 'I am obliged to employ a number of women, at harvest-time, to pick it out from the wheat, and to tie it up in bundles.' No doubt," Mr. Jones adds, "when thus tied up in bundles it is usually burnt; for every prudent farmer would adopt such measures as he thought best calculated to prevent it from springing again from seed, which it would most likely do if the straw coming from it were converted into litter; for in this case, although the stems should rot, yet the seeds would be carried out into the fields among manure, and he would thus perpetuate the evil which he had taken pains to extirpate." corn!' FAMILY WORSHIP. In the moulding of the Scottish character, noted as it is for honesty of purpose, downright integrity, and a zealous adherence to the interests of true religion, that sacred institution, the Family Altar, has had a mighty influence. Scotland, above all other nations, has been most watchful of her faith; her sons have not hesitated to fight for its maintenance against great odds, under many disadvantages, and triumphed in the end. These worthy traits of character are traceable to a vital Christianity which existed in their midst, and from such a spring of supply was drawn all the strength that sustained them in the defence of their faith. God was honoured in the family, His name was praised, His blessing supplicated, and the thankful offerings of grateful hearts tendered to Him morning and evening without intermission. In the humblest home, and however poorly furnished, an altar was raised in honour of God. The Church required all its members to observe the sacred duty of family worship regularly in their dwellings. Thus, in the past, family worship was very generally observed, and accounted as a part of Christian duty which should not be neglected. Beneficial and lasting have been the results of the observance of this duty on succeeding generations. Children looked back in after years on the happy associations of childhood, and the remembrance of the family altar threw a hallowed beauty around them; the venerable father could never be forgot by them; his familiar voice, his prayers and intercessions on their behalf, so deeply imprinted themselves on their memory, that the flight of time failed to efface them. The influence for good which the observance of this duty invariably shed, had often the effect of restraining the thoughtless son or daughter from many a sinful act. How pleasant to the early traveller, passing by the homestead of the humble farmer on a summer morning, to hear, above the music of the many feathered songsters, the sweet melody of the Psalm. In the early morning, when all nature seems but awakening from its transient repose, the voice of prayer and the song of praise ascends as a sweet sacrifice to nature's God. Half a century ago or more, this duty was very generally observed, and more especially, perhaps, by the rural population. Cities have always been famed for abounding profanity, ungodliness, and crime; but cities have also many noble and good, and among them family worship was very regularly observed. Notwithstanding the binding nature of this duty on all professing Christians, the many benefits which have been derived from the observance of it, and the good effect on the nation in general, the observance of family worship has been for a considerable time on the decline. The pious parent dies and leaves the sacred duty as a legacy to his children, who, more conformed to the ways of a wicked world, reject such a precious boon, and leave the altar whereon, often before, was offered the sacrifice of willing hearts, desolate and forsaken. The age is said to be advancing in enlightenment, in the discovery of scientific wonders, and in all kinds of invention; new systems of social economy are propounded, and everything for the bodily comfort and ease of man receives the greatest attention; but, alas! Scotland, whose sons have been highly favoured with all these privileges and improvements, is neglecting the duty of honouring God in the family. While a peculiar eagerness is felt in the performance of all duties which minister to pleasure or worldly interests, that which would yield the greatest of all benefits, the observance of family devotion, is cold and formal, and often wilfully neglected. There is in our day a great danger of the Christian faith, held so dearly, and carried out into life-practice so conscientiously by our forefathers in days gone by, becoming a mere matter of nominal belief. The great majority of the members of the Church now consider that they fulfil all that is required of them in connection therewith, by attending with their families at the diets of worship on Sabbath, and, it may be, reading with them a chapter from their Bibles in the evening; after which the Bible is shut and laid past until the lapse of another week: as morning and evening come round, no song of praise or fervent prayer ascends from them to Him whom they profess to love and serve. Or further, it may be, that in the hearts of an exceptional few some lingering spark of the zeal of bygone days remains, and who in a formal manner observe worship in their homes Sabbath morning and evening: they rear an altar to God on the sacred day of rest; but during the other days of the week it is wholly neglected. The neglect of this sacred duty vitally affects the interests and usefulness of the Sabbath school; and it throws a double duty on the Sabbath school teacher. It is his vocation to teach those under his charge the truths of the Gospel, and to urge them to accept Jesus as their Saviour. But it is very difficult to get children to do this when they receive no encouragement at home. Their teacher may ask them to kneel down and pray to a loving Saviour; and he may persuade them to love a Saviour all worthy of their love; but to what effect is it when they never see their parents bend a knee in prayer, nor any signs of that love exhibited by their dearest friends? The reality of their teacher's persuasions loses hold in their minds, and they fail to attend to his instructions; and, thus, prayerless parents throw a great hindrance in the way of the success of the Sabbath school. Their children are in a certain sense taught to look upon the teachings of the Sabbath school as something mysterious, and not meant to be carried out to the letter, and as something that they see and hear little of at home. On the other hand, children who are blessed with parents who honour God daily at the family altar, see in such devotion and consistency the exemplification of the teachings of the Sabbath school; they listen more readily to their teacher, and they understand his teachings more easily; and thus the influence of the Sabbath school for good is fostered and encouraged, and the benefits it holds out fully taken advantage of. Seeing that the observance of family worship is of so much assistance to the success of |