MISS LEIGH AND THE BISHOP OF ONTARIO AT THE Y.W.C.A., PARIS.

HE Annual New Year's Dinner, at the Young Women's Christian Association Home, 26, Faubourg St. Honoré, was held this year on the 13th February, instead of upon New Year's day, Miss Leigh being ill in England at that time, so, at the unanimous wish of the members of the Y.W.C.A., the dinner was put off until they could have the pleasure of her presence, which was realized on Wednesday, the 13th instant, when she was accompanied by the Lord Bishop of Ontario, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Hamilton, and other friends.

A large party assembled to welcome her, and the rooms were decorated with the mottos,

"GOD BLESS MISS LEIGH;"

"GOD BLESS THE HOMES;"

"AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD;" and a Maltese cross, composed of violets, with the letters,

"IN HIS NAME,"

in white silver paper, all of which were arranged by the willing hands of the inmates of the Y.W.C.A. Home, who had accomplished this labour of love after a long day. at their respective houses of business.

all the pulsations of our human hearts and how much separation meant, and how deeply we could all feel the loneliness of life, so He led us from the human to the Divine, and gave us each the assurance of His individual presence. "Certainly I will be with thee." May each one learn more the full meaning of these words and understand something of the power of the promise of God.

The Bishop of Ontario then followed, saying how glad he was to be present that night; although now but a stranger to them, he hoped very soon to know the members of the Y.W.C.A., Paris, as his friends.

The Rev. R. T. de Carteret then offered prayer, and the Benediction was given by the Bishop.

SOIREE AT THE GOVERNESSES' INSTITUTE.

N Thursday, February 14th, in spite of snow and

rain, our members and friends assembled in goodly numbers to welcome Miss Leigh upon her first visit to the new Institute, and also the last before her wedding. These monthly gatherings are fully appreciated, and were we able to offer beds to those who live in the outskirts of Paris, our assemblies would be much larger.

Echoes from Paris.

53

Early in the evening, before Miss Leigh arrived, we made our plans and arrangements for the decorating of Christ Church for the wedding, and found the idea warmly taken up by the governesses and artists present.

It was very pleasant to see the real smile of welcome on all faces as Miss Leigh came in, and her greeting to all was kind and genial. Then came music and singing-a trio of harp, piano, and song giving especial pleasure—and all felt the evening had come to a close too soon, when at ten o'clock Miss Leigh gave us what she termed her "last maiden speech." As usual, its tone and point was the upholding of Christ, and very earnestly she urged upon her listeners the power of the presence of God-how each needed the guidance of God the all-wise, and the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ, the all-powerful One. Then we sang a hymn heartily all together, and the Lord Bishop of Ontario closed the evening with prayer. Dr. Bernard and the Rev. R. T. de Carteret were also present, and we all agreed that our monthly soirées must be kept up, as they bring us together for social intercourse, recreation, and mutual friendliness. C. M. H.

OUR SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

N Saturday, February 16th, the seventeenth annual meeting of the British and American Homes and Christian Association in Paris, founded by Miss Leigh, was held at 77, Avenue Wagram. The Lord Bishop of Quebec presided, and there were present the Countess of Lytton, the Lord Bishop of Ontario, Dr. Chapman, Rev. Robert McAll, Rev. S. Anderson, Rev. R. T. de Carteret, Chaplain of Christ Church, the Rev. H. B. Bramley Hart, of the Wesleyan Chapel, J. T. B. Sewell, Esq., Solicitor to the British Embassy, Dr. Barnard, Hon. Physician of

Washington House, a large gathering of friends in Paris, also the children from the Orphanage, and the little ones belonging to the Kindergarten.

After all present had joined in the familiar strains of the Old Hundredth, the chaplain read the twenty-sixth chapter of the Book of the prophet Isaiah; and when the chairman, the Bishop of Quebec, had offered prayer, he rose and said :

"I stand before you with a curious feeling of surprise at finding myself here-asked to enlighten you upon a work of which you all know more by practical experience and personal contact than I do. For many years I have known that there was an excellent work going on in Paris, and carried out in an excellent manner; and when Miss Leigh asked me to preside to-day, I was most happy to comply, and will act upon the old proverb spoken by some one only less wise than Solomon: 'Blessed is the man who, when he has nothing to say, can be persuaded to say it!' I will now call upon Dr. Strong to read the annual report."

As the report will be printed in extenso, it is not given here.

After reading the report, Dr. Strong added his personal testimony, as a member of the Paris Council, to the need and to the efficient administration of the work, and that Miss Leigh had proved what one woman could do, when head and heart combined, to alleviate the sorrow and soften the hard lines in the lives of our fellow-creatures. It was impossible to enumerate the thousand blessings which had emanated from the Homes in Paris.

Dr. Chapman, in rising to move the adoption of the report, said such a catalogue of institutions as had been described spoke for themselves of the great extent and utility of such a work, and he had great pleasure in ful

Echoes from Paris.

filling the duty ascribed to him.

55

Personally he knew more of the Orphanage than the other Homes, and could bear his testimony to the individual care bestowed upon the children.

Dr. Barnard, in seconding Dr. Chapman's motion, spoke especially of the value and needs of Washington House for young men, which required means for furnishing fully and at once, to be prepared for the young men who were coming out for the Exhibition, and would certainly prove a grand success, not only philanthropically, but financially. The secretary of the London Polytechnic Institution, who had been visiting Washington House that day, said it ought to be to Paris what the Polytechnic was to London.

The chairman then read the resolution, That the report be adopted, printed, and circulated, which was passed unanimously.

Some action songs were then very acceptably sung by the children of the respective schools, after which the Rev. S. Anderson rose to propose a vote of thanks to the honorary physicians-Dr. Faure Miller, of the Mission Homes, and Dr. Barnard, of Washington House. He said he esteemed the medical profession one of the very highest and noblest, and in the name of all present he heartily thanked the two physicians for all their labours, kindness, and skill, and assured them that many there would ever remember them with gratitude in their prayers.

The Rev. R. McAll then rose to second this vote of thanks, and said that he had ever taken a deep interest in the work going on under Miss Leigh's able direction and leadership.

The thought had occurred to him how impossible it was to estimate and judge of the result of this work, even from the annual report just read, and how astonishing it would be if they could see another document laid