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least a deal of it is, to adesmen are assisted in in their efforts to "keep the religious denominad, and even beyond, are schools, whilst nearly all are strengthened by their tive Methodism owes much time ago, gave more than ebt which pressed upon our any years given the superint about £18 a year to relieve for five years he paid the chers belonging to the station, is aided by him and another during the entire term of his og engaged in building several writer made known to the firm the brothers wrote him to say

for every 15s. he could beg for new chapels. Neither tongue nor nd joy this promise has put into

one of these excellent men, Mr. Crossley, Baronet, M.P.), spent ning a handsome park, which he fax for ever, and he erected on one le of handsome houses, in which ed persons will be kept in comfort Us, so that literally in this case the ogether." A short distance from the is, Mr. Joseph has just completed lar institution, a line of beautiful n number, with a chapel in the ur to get you a picture of these ill then tell you more about them. a short time ago I had the pleasure or worship, on which occasion it tenants and others. These good e some rich men. They are never rigin of their family. I have heard in public with great emotion, and neeting, when some one compliself-made man," he said hing take; for every man 0 from morning till had helped to ma y of the visits of t

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Youths' Department.

THE ORPHANAGE, SKIRCOAT, HALIFAX.
(With Engraving.)

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ON the preceding page the reader is presented with a beautiful engraving of one of the noblest buildings in the land-noble in its appearance, but still more so in the pose for which it is built. It is no other than a home for about 450 orphan children, which the Christian benevolence of three brothers has erected in the neighbourhood of Halifax, Yorkshire, and which they intend to endow for all time, as the permanent school and home of those whom God may see fit to deprive of their parents in early life. The building in its size and general appearance may be seen in the picture accompanying this article. I shall now give you some account of the gentlemen whose wealth and kind hearts have reared it.

About twenty-seven years ago there died in the town of Halifax an aged gentleman named John Crossley. He began life as a working man, a maker of carpets by handloom operations. He was a good man and a true Christian. His wife also loved the Saviour, and was such a woman as Solomon describes in Proverbs xxxi. 10-31. In course of time this excellent couple built a small mill in Dean Clough, Halifax, where they made carpets by both steam and handpower, until the time of Mr. Crossley's death. At that time the factory was no larger than a good sized chapel, as a painting of it which I have seen sets forth. This little mill, with the business belonging to it, was left to three sons, John, Joseph, and Francis, in whose hands the business still remains. But oh! what a difference there is between Dean Clough twenty-seven years ago and now. Then, a small building, in which about 100 hands found employment, was the only one which therein existed; now, the Clough, for several hundred yards in length and about one hundred yards in breadth, is entirely filled with large and handsome buildings, in which about 4,000 persons find daily employment. This splendid business is the result of the skill, tact, enterprise, and good conduct of the three brothers already named; not forgetting to mention the blessing of Him who "raiseth up and casteth down." This large business has brought to its proprietors immense wealth, how much I have not been mindful to ascertain. But this I do know, it is not spent, as much wealth is, in

riotous living, but is devoted, at least a deal of it is, to godlike purposes. Struggling tradesmen are assisted in their business, the poor are aided in their efforts to "keep the wolf from the door," nearly all the religious denominations in the town, neighbourhood, and even beyond, are helped to build their chapels and schools, whilst nearly all the good enterprises of the nation are strengthened by their cash and their influence. Primitive Methodism owes much to their aid. Mr. Joseph, some time ago, gave more than £500 towards wiping off the debt which pressed upon our Halifax chapel. He has for many years given the superintendent preacher of this circuit about £18 a year to relieve the poor of his congregation; for five years he paid the salary of one of the three preachers belonging to the station, and now that very preacher is aided by him and another gentleman with 5s. a-week during the entire term of his ministerial probation. Being engaged in building several chapels in this circuit, the writer made known to the firm his position, when one of the brothers wrote him to say that they would give him 5s. for every 15s. he could beg for any or all of his intended new chapels. Neither tongue nor pen can tell the comfort and joy this promise has put into my heart. Some years ago one of these excellent men, Mr. Frank (now Sir Francis Crossley, Baronet, M.P.), spent more than £30,000 in forming a handsome park, which he gave to the people of Halifax for ever, and he erected on one side of his mansion a pile of handsome houses, in which about forty poor and aged persons will be kept in comfort as long as the world exists, so that literally in this case the "rich and the poor meet together." A short distance from the almshouses of Sir Francis, Mr. Joseph has just completed the erection of a similar institution, a line of beautiful buildings, twenty-two in number, with a chapel in the centre. I will endeavour to get you a picture of these houses by and by, and will then tell you more about them. I will only here say that a short time ago I had the pleasure of opening this chapel for worship, on which occasion it was well filled with the tenants and others. These good men are not proud, as are some rich men. They are never ashamed of the humble origin of their family. I have heard Sir Francis speak of it in public with great emotion, and one night at a public meeting, when some one complimented him on being "a self-made man," he said, "Nothing could be a greater mistake; for every man, woman, and child, who had worked from morning till night at Dean Clough up to that time had helped to make him." They never seem to be weary of the visits of those who go for

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