THE ASSOCIATED WORKERS' LEAGUE. STANDING beneath the grand dome of the skies of Northern Montana, I once watched the magnificent flashes of coloured rays which lit up the midnight heavens with a crown of light. I had broken my rest to see, with awe-struck delight, how the hand of God was thus painting the distant horizon. The aurora borealis, crowning the death-like gloom and stillness of that bare grim ridge of the great Rockies, was awakening those transformed hills with its resurrection glory. In the mystic marvel of light and colour dead Nature's past revived, and linked her present with a future life eternal. I remember looking sadly on the wonderful scene, being depressed with the apparent failure and deadness of some mission work in these Montanian wilds, brooding faithlessly on my personal disappointment and its unsolved causes. Suddenly the gorgeous flashes of the sky crown were all in harmonious waving motion. Each ray blended into other from right to left and from left to right, the star-like spikes of the crown being one moment distinct and clear, in another all one waving sheet of rainbow hued light. Then the spiral rays apart or in the mass, acquired a deepened and prolonged intensity in brilliance of tone and colour. Whilst I gazed and knelt upon a thought as one who prays,' the exquisite vision faded and slowly vanished as the early dawn crept up with silent silvery feet over the jagged snow-crowned mountain range. But the thought remained and bore fruit. It was borne in on me then, and since, that the chief causes of failure in the work hitherto attempted so feebly for the Master in this godless mining camp, or elsewhere, were the isolation and exclusiveness, the disassociated solitariness which weakened the faith and numbed the efforts of the lonely worker. Even as those rays of the great Northern Lights when blended electrically, and visibly comingled, acquired truer colour, brighter glory, and deepened intensity of meaning, so, when the isolated church-worker struggled prayerfully on, in co-operation with others, striving to witness to the Eternal Light, then her once lonely work, absorbed in the brighter stronger rays of Christian fellowship, acquired a truer value, a fuller meaning, and so obtained richer spiritual results. I cannot now say more about that special Montanian Missionary work in which for two years of exile I was allowed to share. I want only by what I have learnt from one of Nature's many lessons to bring home to others the truth then so forcibly impressed on my experience. I would most earnestly bring home this lesson in reference to the Associated Workers' League, whose fruitful branches are spreading amongst church-workers, and whose great principle is that grand old one newly applied, of earnest co-operation for the mutual renewing of their united strength. Briefly to state the A. W. League's objects-they are fourfold. 1st. To introduce those desiring work to the fields of usefulness best adapted for their special gifts. 2nd. To reinforce existing agencies with new workers. 3rd. To form a Workers' Exchange; where workers in the various fields may meet for mutual help, stimulus, and co-operation. 4th. To help workers in the country during their temporary residence in London, by bringing them in contact with actual work in whatever department is specially interesting to them, and by introducing them to those persons most experienced in carrying it out. This Association is in no position of rivalry with that excellent Society, the Ladies' Diocesan Association, founded by Mrs. Tait, and carried on by Mrs. Temple. The features that distinguish the A. W. L. from it are: 1st. The A. W. L. is composed of men as well as women; and 2nd. its sphere of work is extra diocesan, the needs of S. London being specially impressed on its members. The Committee, in whose hands is the management of the League, consists of the following: Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount Folkstone, Hon. W. St. John Broderick, Hon. and Rev. E. Carr Glynn, Mr. James Lowther, Mr. Malcolm Sands, Professor Henry Drummond, Duchess of Westminster, Lady Fanny Marjoribanks, Lady Edward Cavendish, Lady Hilda Broderick, Lady Wimborne, Lady Houghton, Lady Hayter, Miss Violet Page, Mrs. Sands, Miss Morgan. Marchioness of Tavistock, Countess of Aberdeen, Joint Secretaries. The list of members and of working members is happily too long to add here. Monthly meetings, in which persons experienced in special branches of the work, are asked to take part and report, have hitherto been three in number, for the League is, as yet, but three months old. They were held at the town residences of members of the committee. The earnest sympathy and emphatically expressed interest of the highest dignitaries of the Established Church have greatly encouraged the committee. It is in the hope that the Association's helpful influence may be extended to all earnest church-workers that this short sketch of its start, its hopes, and motives, is written. Any one wishing to become a member or a working member of the A. W. L., or sincerely desirous of knowing more of its work, can obtain fuller information by applying for a copy of its charming little publication, Note Book for Working Members,' which will be sent by the Hon. Sec., the Marchioness of Tavistock, 37 Chesham Place, London, S.W., who answers all communications in the absence of Lady Aberdeen in Ireland. In the preface to the note-book it is stated that the League must not waste itself in aimless pity. It is no cover for amateur dilettante philanthropy. It is to be an arena for solid work, a society where those who have serious views of life will meet for mutual counsel, stimulus, and co-operation and help.' The thought to be urged on the workers is that solemn one—' Ye are not your own.' In His Name, Who took on Himself the form of a servant, and went about doing good, the promoters call on those who join to carry on Christ's work in prayer and consecration, and in personal loyalty to Him. Special work among young men and boys, and among young women and girls, is explained, and in one paper, entitled 'Miscellaneous Work,' some hints are given to those who are unable to take a part in active work, whether by illness or for other reasons. Timid and inexperienced toilers in the Lord's vineyards are encouraged by such sweet and helpful words as these which may go home (as they have done) to those doubtful of their small abilities, or depressed by their scant opportunities. It is one of the most solemn facts of experience to the worker that where there is little opportunity of obtaining more spiritual foodcrumbs of teaching faithfully given may and can do the work of sustenance to hungry souls. For the crumbs fall from Him Who is the Bread of Life to His people.' Such an Association as this should be more widely known. Its spiritual and practical power can be largely increased by an added number of volunteer workers. The Associated Workers' League yet lacks a motto, and it has been said that the first year's work may suggest one. This has been well said, for the motto of the truest work is ever proved by the test of application by the workers. But pending the end of the trial year, may a well-known little verse be suggested for the earnest and humble, but perhaps hesitating, untried workers who would fain follow the bold experienced leaders, yet known not with what weapons their weakness can help the fight in the great battle of good against evil. It is this 'If you cannot speak like angels, If you cannot preach like Paul, BLANCHE C. MEDHURST. ANNE JOSEPH. BY EUPHEMIA E. G. BUSSELL. OUR scattered congregation at Dingwall has lost its oldest member, and I think a short sketch of her character may interest your readers. She was a native of the county of Durham, but marrying an Italian organ-grinder, for the sake of his music, she tramped the country with him, until, about forty years ago, they came as far north as Ross-shire, and settled down in Dingwall. The pair were accustomed to walk as many as thirty miles a day, he carrying his barrel-organ, and she her pedlar's pack, and in days when shops were scarce, no doubt Anne managed comfortably to maintain herself whether her husband succeeded in his trade or not. It is said that they had once some children, but these were left behind at a place in England during an excursion, and a visitation of cholera occurring to the town, all trace of the young family was swept away before the parents could reach them. When we knew Anne she had been a widow for a year or two, and her wanderings were much curtailed. She became a communicant shortly after the commencement of my father's incumbency, and remained a deeply attached member of the church until her death, on the 25th of February last. In her illness all her wanderings were about the church. She used often to sy in her days of health, that if she were only rich the church should never want for anything in the way of stained glass windows or magnificent organ. I think I have just indicated this aspect of her character in my tale White Ice,' which appeared in the Christmas number of the Monthly Packet' for 1885. Anne Joseph, otherwise Mrs. Joseph Mountrich-though no one ever called her by her husband's surname-was certainly the heroine of that tale. She also sat for her portrait in 'His Lordship,' which was published in your Christmas number for 1879. Old Isabel with equal truth represented her in another phase. 'His Lordship' was a familiar expression in Mrs. Joseph's mouth. There was a neighbouring nobleman in far different circumstances from Lord Forsinard, into whose happy home she was welcomed every Christmas Eve as long as she had strength to go so far, where she was fed and rested, given money and materials for her Christmas dinner, admitted to an interview with the lady, and finally sent back to the station in one of 'His Lordship's' carriages. She was so accustomed to be made welcome at the various county houses, allowed to exhibit the contents of her pack in the drawing-room, and so certain of receiving more than their value for the articles she sold, that if by chance the ordinary treatment accorded to pedlars awaited her, she thought her customers had committed a solecism in manners. My sister used to write letters of introduction for her to the shooting tenants when they came down, and anxiously our old woman looked for the result of the first call, since, until that had been paid, she knew well the recommendatory line could not be written. She was a great reader, and used to indulge herself in candles far more than was prudent, reading up to midnight in her bed, until she saw the account of some one who did so and got into danger by it. Most fortunately this cured her of the habit before worse came. But although she could read, and greatly enjoy what she read, she could not write, managing to keep the accounts of the coal and clothing club, for which she was collector, in her head, discharging herself of the responsibility week by week at the Parsonage, and inviting compliments on her own correctness as she did so. It was only in extreme old age that she began to make mistakes. She chose these Monday morning interviews as her opportunity for criticising the music of the previous Sunday. In proportion as a hymn had brought tears, she loved and admired it. It was her nature to be autocratic on most subjects, and when the hymn-book in use at St. James's was changed for the latest and enlarged edition of 'Ancient and Modern,' the impending innovation was broken gently to her, and she showed herself anything but pleased, as she feared getting confused with the new numbers; however, she very soon had her favourites among the strange hymns. An hour before service time the bowed form used to arrive at the church gate. It did not matter what the weather might be, scarcely ever was it known to keep her away. Then she expected to be made very welcome, shown what the hymns were going to be, and in winter well warmed by the vestry fire. It is to be feared that she felt a little superior to her neighbours on these occasions, for certainly she criticised their more lax attendance freely, and it never seemed to occur to her to make excuses for them. We had to do all that. Nothing pleased her so well as to be told that she looked so frail it was wonderful to see her still going about. She took a lively interest in us all, and we had to apologise to her whenever we took a holiday. She disliked missing either of us very much, fearing she should die while that one was away. But if we reminded her that the rolling stone might possibly bring home some moss in the shape of a new tune, she brightened up, and ceased her objections. I am afraid it will be impossible for me to picture adequately the strong will she had, and how, even in her increasing poverty, she exercised a kind of sway over her neighbours, among whom she was held in great respect, probably because she respected herself. Her room was very neat while she could keep it so, papered with engravings from the Illustrated London News,' and crammed up with |